Ronna Nirmala
Police Shedding Light on Safety Law, But Some Motorcyclists Not On Board
Jakarta Police on Thursday began to enforce a law that will take effect on Jan. 1 requiring motorcyclists to use their headlights during the daytime, although some riders have objected to the measure.
Sr. Comr. Condro Kirono, director of the city traffic police, said officers had begun to enforce the law in West Jakarta, but sanctions won’t be given until next year. Police also began giving warnings to another regulation which requires motorcyclists to use only the left-most lane.
“The new law gives more attention to safety and security, as well as enforcing good behavior from road users,” Condro said.
Motorcyclists using headlights during the day is an internationally recommended road safety practice, with several overseas studies noting significant decreases in accidents after its implementation. A study in New Zealand, published in 2007, showed a decrease in the risk of accidents by as much as 27 percent. In the United States, some studies indicated a 40 percent reduction.
But not all motorcyclists have welcomed the new measure.
Fitri Yulianti, who uses her motorcycle to travel to work, said she believed there was no advantage in keeping her headlight on during daylight hours.
“Motorcycles with their lights on when the sun is shining will not be very effective because they will still not be too visible,” she said, explaining that turning signals were only noticed because they flashed.
Another motorcyclist, Imram, complained that the requirement would mean extra costs.
“If the light is switched on during the day and at night, it can cause the battery to dry up quickly and therefore we would have to go to the motorcycle shop more often. That just adds to expenses,” he said.
“I usually go to the [bike] shop maybe once a month, and probably, due to this headlight requirement, I may have to go twice a month just to recharge the battery,” he said.
The headlight regulation carries fines of up to Rp 100,000 ($10.60) or 15 days in jail for violators. Motorcyclists failing to keep to the left-most lane face fines of up to Rp 250,000 or one month in jail.
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Roland
1:15 PM December 6, 2009While I am an absolute supporter of initiatives as the one introduced I think that road safety law should be equally divided between ALL road users. I am sure everyone can tell horrific stories about the stupidity of certain drivers and the absolute ignorance to other users. While motor cyclist are the are generally just endangering themselves bus drivers, and there again especially KOPAJA and MINI METRO as well as Angkot drivers and their buses should be targeted first. They are not only a MAJOR nuisance and ridiculously ignorant to any existing road law, their vehicles are in general in wreck like conditions (no break light, no direction lights, no head lights, the passenger areas messy and dirty and a scorn to any user, the drivers with cigarettes in their mouth steering this smoke belching monsters) but they are truly endangering all other users of the street, here again especially motor cycle drivers. How can you stay on the left if suddenly a bus stops or start squeezing you between side walk and bus side without hesitation. Car drivers have the advantage of having at least a bit of a bumper zone around them but motor cycle drivers have none (except the helmet - if worn!)