Jakarta, June 5 (Antara) - The exodus of post-fasting Eid el-Fitr or Lebaran travelers will begin next week when revelers are going home to celebrate post-Ramadan fasting festivities in their hometowns on June 15-16, 2018.
This year, it is estimated that more than 19.5 million people will return home to have family or friend reunions and to celebrate the festivities after fasting for one month.
Of the 19.5 million Lebaran travelers, some 6.39 million are estimated to use two-wheeled motor vehicles, according to the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI).
Hence, the organization asked travelers, especially those driving motorcycles to pay attention to safety during their journey because motorcyclists are most prone to accident.
In a press conference titled Lebaran 2018 Transportation, he explained, the number of travelers of two-wheeled vehicles is estimated at more than 6.39 million. Two-wheeled vehicles riders during the Lebaran exodus always contribute about 70 percent to the accident rate.
MTI accordingly asked Lebaran travelers using motorcycles to give attention to their safety by arranging time to take rest and limiting passengers and luggage.
"The two-wheeled vehicle drivers of this year's travelers are still high and are at risk of contributing to the number of accidents. Motorists should give priority to their safety," said Presidium Chairman of MTI Muslih Zaenal Asikin in Jakarta on Monday.
"Ideally, the four-wheeled drivers take a rest for a moment after driving for four hours, while the motorcycle drivers must take a rest at least every two hours," he said. One of the factors causing the accident is fatigue so that motorcycle drivers need to often take rests to recover their physical condition.
Moreover, long-distance motorcycle travelers are generally not very familiar with the field and need full concentration due to the dense flow of vehicles.
Another thing that the government needs to be firm is regarding matters on the number of passengers and excess luggage on motorcycles that can pose an accident risk.
He said motorcyclists carrying three people or overloaded, need to be intercepted from where they set off, for their safety. "Police will face a dilemma if they intercept them in the middle of their ways because it is impossible for the police to reduce the passengers and goods by force," he said.
One of the largest populated province is West Java. Two-wheeled vehicle motorcylists going home during the exodus are also expected to dominate the flow of traffic.
Motorcyclists will still dominate West Java's homecoming routes, and the number of travelers crossing the province during Eid el-Fitr's homecoming in 2018 is forecast to increase five percent from those in 2017, the Provincial Transportation Office stated.
"We forecast that the flow of homecoming travelers on land routes this year will be dominated by motorcyclists," West Java Transportation Department Chief Dedi Taufik noted on Wednesday (May 30).
According to Taufik, the number of vehicles used by travelers passing through West Java last year had reached 2,462,840 and is forecast to increase by five percent this year. The number of homecoming travelers using means of sea transportation increased by 1.67 percent, air passengers rose by 7.6 percent, and train travelers by 7.8 percent.
Taufik remarked that the West Java Transportation Office was ready to provide services and security to riders to ensure comfort and safety during homecoming.
In addition, road facilities have been readied to ensure travel safety, and preparations have been made for homecoming routes on three lanes in West Java: South, Central, and North.
In an efforts to reduce the number of Lebaran travelers using two-wheeled vehicles, various agencies, including government-owned ones, offered free ride to motorcyclists.
MTI Deputy Chairman Djoko Setijawarno said free travel program for motorcyclists has not significantly lowered the number of travelers using motorcycles.
He explained that during Lebaran 2018, the government provides 39,446 units of homecoming motorcycle drivers through trucks, trains, boats and roll-on-roll off ferry ships.
There is now a significant increase in the free homecoming ride quota compared to that provided last year. This year free ride is offered to a total of 19,148 units of vehicle drivers (106 percent increase). Yet, that number is only 0.006 percent compared to the number of travelers using motorcycles.
Even at the press conference, the National Commercial Shipping Entrepreneurs Association of Indonesia (INSA), which provides free Lebaran trips by ships for two-wheeled vehicle drivers, revealed the number of enthusiasts this year only reached 50 percent.
"The number of those already registered only reached 15,200 motorcycles from the target of 30,000 motorcycles," Djoko of INSA said.
Djoko explained, travelers prefer to use motorcycles because they can use the vehicles in their destination.
Other free ride offer also comes from state-owned seaport operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Pelindo III), which is preparing free tickets to about 14 thousand travelers while state-owned agro-industry and pharmacy company, PT RNI, is provide one thousand seats free to Lebaran travelers.
East Kalimantan fertilizer plant PT Pupuk Kaltim will provide 1,900 free ship tickets for the Lebaran holiday travelers.***4***
(A014/B003)(T.A014/A/BESSR/Bustanuddin) 06-06-2018 00:17 |
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