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ollowing a spike in the number of accidents involving city cars and multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) during Idul Fitri, the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) is calling for more education for small car owners.

MTI chairman Danang Parikesit said that automobile manufacturers, the Transportation Ministry and the National Police needed to educate holiday travelers on which vehicles were suitable for long-haul travel.

“People must understand that certain types of cars are not suitable for Idul Fitri holiday [travel],” Danang told The Jakarta Post.

According to the National Police, 4,006 accidents were reported during the Idul Fitri holiday exodus between Aug. 23 and Sept. 4, up 33 percent from 3,010 accidents during last year’s holiday season.

Police said that a large number of the accidents this year involved compact MPVs and other small cars intended for inner-city travel.

The most high-profile accident involving compact cars happened to dangdut singer Saipul Jamil.

Saipul’s pregnant wife, Virginia Anggraini, 23, died when the Toyota Avanza he was driving rolled over in a high-speed crash on the Cipularang toll road connecting Jakarta and Bandung, West Java, on Saturday.

The crash occurred after he lost control of the vehicle, Saipul said.

“I was holding the wheel. Suddenly the car lost balance. There was a strong wind. The brakes failed, the car became uncontrollable and crashed into a road divider,” Saiful told reporters.

Several compact car drivers said that they shared similar experiences with Saipul when driving at high speeds.

Imam Akimaya, a resident of Cipondoh, South Tangerang, said he learned from experience that his Avanza would become unstable if he drove it faster than 90 kilometers per hour (kph).

“I once drove my Toyota Avanza at 140 kph and it was as if my car was ready to take off,” he said.

Imam said he later learned that city cars were designed for casual driving at speeds below 80 kph.

Another Avanza owner, Stella Kusumawardhani, said she knew firsthand the risks of pushing her car to its limits.

“I never try to speed up on the inner city toll road – let alone on an inter-city highway,” she told the Post.

Others said they have never had problems with their small cars.

“I’ve been driving a Daihatsu Xenia for three years and I have never had a problem with it,” Lilik Rais, a resident of Bekasi, West Java, said.

Driver error was likely behind the series of holiday accidents involving compact cars, she said.

Toyota Astra Motor (TAM), the sole distributor of the Avanza, said that the company was not to blame for accidents involving its vehicles.

Company spokesman Rouli Sijabat said that all Avanza MPVs were equipped with “numerous active and passive safety features that comply with international standards”.

“Our basic principle is ‘customers first’. That’s why our products’ specifications are based on our customers’ needs,” he told the Post on Tuesday.

Toyota, Indonesia’s most popular car brand, dominated business transactions at the 19th Indonesia International Motor Show, which recorded total sales of 11,585 cars, worth Rp 3.27 trillion (US$386.35 million).

TAM said the company sold 6,962 cars worth a total Rp 1.6 trillion during the exhibition, which wrapped up in early August.

Toyota’s sales accounted for 60 percent of total sales during the 10-day expo.

The Avanza and the Grand New Kijang Innova MPVs were the two major contributors to sales during the show, with 2,834 and 1,689 units sold, respectively. (mim)