"In our efforts to reduce traffic accidents during Ketupat Operation 2012, we will give special attention to holiday travellers returning to their home villages on motorcycles," National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo saidJakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Police (Polri) has decided to focus mainly on those homeward-bound Id-Ul-Fitr (Lebaran) holiday travellers who will use motorcycles.
"In our efforts to reduce traffic accidents during Ketupat Operation 2012, we will give special attention to holiday travellers returning to their home villages on motorcycles," National Police Chief Gen Timur Pradopo said here on Friday.
He added that driving motorcycles during the Lebaran holiday exodus was risky because two-wheelers were not suitable for long-distance trips.
"People tend to use motorbikes to avoid traffic jams and to reduce transportation costs. However, according to the police data collected during Ketupat Operation 2011, 76 percent of traffic accidents involved motorcycles," Timur pointed out.
Meanwhile, Traffic Police Chief Inspector General Puji Hartanto stated that motorcycle riders were most likely to become victims of traffic accidents during the Lebaran holiday rush.
"We hope holiday travellers this year will use other modes of transportation instead of motorcycles," Puji said, adding that Polri had cooperated with PT Jasa Raharja and Land Transportation Directorate General in providing free travel for holidaymakers.
He predicted that the number of travellers using motorcycles during the holiday season this year would increase by 7-8 percent(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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