"There is a regulation for it. Then again, sometimes even when the regulation already exists and has been well-studied, it is not enforced," he said in a press conference after a ministerial coordination meeting on overloaded vehicles here on Monday.
This was conveyed by the minister in response to a statement from the chairperson of the Indonesian Drivers' Empowerment Association (ARBPI), Ika Rostianti, who said that many drivers of logistics vehicles used illegal drugs to boost their stamina to drive for long hours.
In this regard, Yudhoyono emphasized that weak implementation of regulations has resulted in incidents and accidents that can actually be avoided.
He further said that the government is seeking to improve the welfare of freight truck drivers who often face social and economic hardships in doing their daily duties.
He emphasized that attention to drivers' well-being is a key part of the government's strategy to create a logistics transportation ecosystem that is safe, humane, and sustainable across Indonesia.
The minister also stated that the government is open to input from associations of drivers and logistics stakeholders to enhance policies and supervision in land transportation.
On that occasion, Yudhoyono outlined that Indonesia recorded 150,906 traffic accidents with 26,839 fatalities in 2024. Around 10.5 percent of those cases involved freight vehicles.
Related news: Truck supervision, driver wages for zero ODOL prioritized
Related news: RI President, Parliament prioritize crackdown on overloaded trucks
Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
