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Traffic accident rate drops in 2017 Idul Fitri exodus
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Road safety: National Police Traffic Corps chief Brig. Gen. Royke Lumowa (left), Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi (second left), Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki (second right) and Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono hold a press briefing on the 2017 Idul Fitri exodus traffic report at the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta on July 6. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
T
he National Police Traffic Corps (Korlantas) has reported a drop in traffic accidents during this year’s Idul Fitri holiday, in which at least 5 million people hit the nation's main roads from June 18 through July 2.
The traffic accident rate decreased 30.39 percent to 3,168 cases, as motorcyclists were prohibited from using the main routes of the Idul Fitri exodus, said Korlantas chief Brig. Gen. Royke Lumowa.
"In future, we will find a better way to reduce the number of motorbikes during the exodus. It is not a safe transportation mode [for long trips]," Royke said during a press conference at the Presidential Office Jakarta on Thursday.
Motorcycle accidents account for 75 percent of total traffic accidents in Indonesia annually.
Royke added that the number of casualties during the exodus also dropped significantly by 41.16 percent to 742 deaths from the 1,261 fatalities during the previous year’s Idul Fitri holiday as police officers in the field had enforced road discipline.
Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the government had worked with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private companies to provide free rides for motorcyclists during the exodus while their motorcycles were carried by train.
"The program facilitated 19,148 motorcycles and 299,178 people," he said. (ags)
