Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have noted a decline in the number of home-bound travelers killed in road accidents ahead of the Idul Fitri festivity this year to 19 from 25 a year earlier.

"The number of fatalities fell. But in total the number of road accidents increased." the chief of the city police`s command post called Operasi Ketupat, Comr. Herman Ruswandi said here on Tuesday.

The number of traffic accidents ahead of the post-fasting month festivities this year reached 126, leaving 19 people dead, 51 people seriously injured and 88 others lightly injured, he said.

Meanwhile, 25 people were killed in 110 road accidents in the lead-up to such festivities last year with 40 people seriously injured and 73 others lightly injured, he said.

Herman said the Jakarta Metropolitan Police was prioritizing the effort to reduce the number of fatalities although the number of road accidents showed an upward trend.

Jakarta police personnel were taking firm measures against motorists violating traffic rules, he said citing an example that a total of 15,044 motorists were ticketed with 7,634 of them reprimanded within seven days ahead of the Idul Fitri festivities.

The figure fell sharply compared to the same period last year when 4,571 motorists were ticketed with 4,248 of them reprimanded, he said.

"We are taking firm measures as part of efforts to reduce the number of deadly road accidents," he said.

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police are deploying 18,444 personnel to conduct the operations from August 23 to September 8.
(S012)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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