Death toll from traffic accidents in the world is increasing from year to year compared with death from other causes. World Health Organization (WHO) predicts in the range of 2000 to 2015 at least 20 thousand people die from traffic accidents, more than 1 billion people were injured, disabled or dependent loses his life for being a victim of road accidents. And most of the victims were falling in developing countries. Ironically, although these statistics are alarming predictions, the awareness of the importance of efforts to prevent the tragedy of deaths and injuries from traffic accidents are still very low.
In a country that is rapidly growing, particularly in Asia and Africa, the number of road users increases rapidly, but growth was not matched with a basic understanding of driving and the causes and consequences of traffic accidents were not owned. That requires education and public awareness to improve the level of driving safety.
In Indonesia, more than 97% of traffic accidents caused by human factors (human error). According to data from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) the number of victims of accidents in Indonesia in 2003 about 1 million injuries and about 30 thousand victims died. If a basic understanding of the importance of driving and safety in the driving is not repaired, that number will swell sharply.
It is common knowledge that the growth of motor vehicles in Indonesia is not accompanied by a basic understanding of understanding of driving and driving safety. As a result, a fight on the highway, nudge between vehicles and boisterous horn became the scene that are often encountered in the streets of Indonesia. Especially with the rapid growth of the motorcycle. According to the Kompas Daily 24/10/2006), about 40 percent of car users in the Greater Jakarta transportation equipment change from four-wheeled vehicles to motorcycles.
We often encounter when you're driving, suddenly a motorcycle out of the lane toward the road without making sure first if road conditions safe for him to turn or change lanes across. As a result, the driver of a car or motorcycle must suppress loud horn or braked hard and swerved to avoid a collision. Even has become a common sight on the streets of Jakarta, when a car stops or slacken the speed of the car, the vehicle directly behind him change lanes to the right or left to pass without giving a turn signal. Even if the turn signal gives the distance between the vehicle swerved to the vehicle behind it is very close to where actually the space in front of the vehicle to veer no. As a result, the vehicle must brake suddenly behind or give it out loud horn to warn the rider in front. Grateful if the driver behind can avoid, if not, can the inevitable collision and encourage pileup.
Because of the low driving a basic understanding and awareness of the importance of driver safety minimal pileup on the freeway eventually become commonplace. The author never even read the news about the Toll Road pileup on TB. Simatupang occurred within three days in a row with different incidents and different victims. It has become commonplace sight on the highway in this country, if the driver does not keep a distance from the existing car front. The speed of 100km / h, the cars on the freeway in the far right lane (fast lane) as a parade with a distance of only 7m with the car in front of him, like a race. Maybe they think the toll road was built to race? Do they not realize how long it takes a car braking from speeds of 100km / h until the car actually stopped to avoid a collision with a car in front of him if something happens?
Motorcycle population growth in Indonesia is increasing rapidly also raises new problems. Motorbikes fill the streets of various parts and sections. On the left, right, front, rear, everywhere, especially in Jakarta during rush hour like moths in the rainy season. The riders had to be extra careful to avoid touching and touched. Unfortunately, the increasing population of motorcycles in Jakarta is not accompanied by awareness of traffic and driving safety. Every red light in Jakarta become like landmines are ready to take its toll, the article motorist behavior that can not be predicted when the red lights dominate the front row. They often wandering when it should stop and give way to riders in other sections affected by the green light. Motorist likes to arbitrarily turn and change lanes, regardless of the vehicle at the rear, front or side so that endanger the safety of himself and others. As a result, the streets of Jakarta every working day can be likened to hell anyone who is ready to plunge.
Lives of traffic accident victims died in Indonesia only cost the equivalent of two goats! A true story may be used as an example. In 1996, a victim died hit by a bus in Sukabumi, West Java, just getting insurance Raharja Services Rp 2.5 million dollars only. When the victim's family to take care of death certificates to the police, family members are asked for money to make the administration of the death certificate by a police officer for 30ribu Sukabumi rupiah (people dead and affected dimintain really money, it is the part of police duty!). Even more crazier, a police officer came to the victim's family's house with the family and the bus driver who crashed into the police urged the family to accompany victims to receive compensation of about USD 6 million in order not to sue the bus driver that the bus driver freed from jail. The reason, the bus driver had three children and a wife that should he live. The victim's family refused to peace and continue to demand the driver to jail. Only the bus driver was sentenced to seven months, but the victim's family heard the bus driver just serving a sentence of 2 months only!
Maybe if it was not an authoritarian regime in power, the situation could be reversed. It is ironic! And of course you do not want to be the next victims of accidents and injustice?
Indeed, the chaotic traffic in major cities in Indonesia, especially Jakarta is not only wrong road users, but also due to road infrastructure is a mess of their responsibilities in the hands of government. Vehicle growth is not matched by the growth path, as a result of various factors make the streets of Jakarta chaotic and dangerous.
But until when we have to blame the government / authorities, but we have to use the roads in this country every day? While waiting for the wide streets, safe, pleasant and adequate law enforcement is really fair and clean apparatus, the user just need to raise awareness of road traffic is good and understanding of the importance of driving safety. All elements with an interest in the highway must raise awareness that accidents do not become commonplace goods and indifference to culture.
In recent years, a number of automobile and motorcycle manufacturers have campaigned for driver safety to the public, consumers, media, etc. Transmigration a partner, through workshops and training. The campaign is a form of social responsibility of vehicle manufacturers in order to reduce the number of accidents on the highway. Through this campaign, is expected behavior of the motorists on the highway became more orderly and understanding of road safety.
The following are some tips to reduce accidents on the highway:
Remember, even the driving is a tough job because it involves the whole body of work and requires a very high concentration.
2 Before running the vehicle, first check the condition of the vehicle, such as tires, lights signaled and others.
3 If you use four-wheel vehicle, wear a safety belt (seatbelt / safety belt). If you are a motorist, wear a helmet is adequate to protect the head properly in the event of collision.
4 a defensive driver capable of driving a vehicle with quiet (not tense) and able to anticipate the situation of traffic conditions in front of him.
5 Make sure you correct driving position and comfortable.
6 Do not use a cell phone, eat or read the newspaper at the time you drive.
7 Habits of motorists in this country is turning the vehicle to the right or left or change lanes to overtake a vehicle that is in front of him because the vehicle in front stops or gives the turn signal to turn. Though the space to turn and overtaking is not quite so disturb the security of the vehicle behind him.
We recommend that you stop behind the first car that stopped, looking at the condition it was safe to overtake. If the car in front of you turn on the turn signal to turn, you should slow the pace vehicle, do not be pulled in the opposite direction because we do not know the condition of the cars in front. If it turns out the lights seinnya damaged, in which he should have turned right, but has had his left turn signal lights are lit, and you even overtaking to the right, you're dead!
8 Always keep a safe distance with the car in front. Safe driving is the rule says that a driver must maintain a safe distance when in tandem with the vehicle in front is determined by the formula of three seconds.
Safe distance between vehicles as hand in hand is 3 seconds. With that man in reacting asumi takes about 1 second. Coupled with a mechanical reaction time of the vehicle (vehicle reaction time) 1 seconds when the brake system started working at the time of braking and coupled with the 'safety factor' of 1 second. So the total reaction time is estimated at least about 3 seconds.
On the toll roads, in 60km/hour minimum and maximum speed of 100km / h, drivers are advised to keep a safe distance as far as 50 - 100m. You can use these formulas, but the habits of motorists at the toll in Indonesia is above 100km/hour, so maybe the recommended calculation is a matter of seconds due to a car braking distance speed 110km/hour 100km/hour with of course different. But as a good driver, you should speed your car on the highway not above the maximum or minimum speed is recommended.
9 Take advantage of these signals is always owned by your vehicle in place and in times of need.
10 Always obey traffic signs.