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Consumer group supports plan to ticket map-checking motorcyclists
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) supports the Jakarta Police's plan to ban motorists from checking their phone-based maps while driving, saying that such a move is necessary to protect both drivers and passengers.
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Jakarta Police officers pull over app-based ‘ojek’ (motorcycle taxi) drivers in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Nov. 21, 2017. (The Jakarta Post/Ben Latuihamallo)
T
he Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) supports the Jakarta Police's plan to ban motorists from checking their phone-based maps while driving, saying that such a move is necessary to protect both drivers and passengers.
YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi said checking maps while driving could divert drivers’ concentration and focus, endangering not only themselves but other motorists when traveling in Jakarta, home to more than 13 million motorcycles and 4.3 million cars.
"If drivers want to check their maps, they can stop and move to the side," he said on Monday.
Citing Article 106 of Law No. 22/2009 on traffic and land transportation, which stipulates that motorists must drive with full concentration, the police said checking maps could lead to accidents.
Approximately 5,642 traffic accidents were recorded in 2017 in the capital, resulting 571 deaths. The figure was a decrease from the previous year, which saw 6,180 incidents that killed 678 people. More than 60 percent of the incidents involved motorcyclists.
City police began on Monday their 21-day traffic operation on Monday. The first day of the operation took place in three busy locations, namely Palmerah in West and Central Jakarta, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta and Casablanca in South Jakarta, deploying 2,704 personnel.
The operation also targeted motorists driving on the wrong side of the road; those with vehicle overcapacity and underage driving.
Traffic division chief Sr. Comr. Halim Pagarra stressed that the enforcement would apply to app-based ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers who often used cell phones while driving to check maps.
He said the first few days of the operation would be used to disseminate information. (fac)
