Jakarta traffic congestion is a big problem

"Landep News"

The 3 in 1 policy which was intended to limit the use of private vehicles to reduce congestion in Jakarta main through road is no longer considered effective and while other ways to ease the traffic are being considered, the regulation need to be changed.

The 3 in 1 regulation made it compulsory for vehicles that enter Sudirman and Thamrin roads to have at least three people in the car between 7:30 to 10:00 in the morning and 4:30 to 7:00 pm in the afternoon. The policy is designed to encourage car pooling and motorist to vary their time passing through the two busiest Jakarta main roads.

However, the implementation of the policy opens up a new business for people around the area sometimes coming from far away to become a 3 in 1 jockey. These people would stand at the entrance of road so that motorist can hire them. For a payment of between USD 1 to 2 per trip they would jump into the car to allow the car to achieve the three people limit.

Jakarta traffic congestion is a big problem

This kind of work has increasingly growing in numbers so much so that the competition amongst these jockeys has started to disturb motorists. They are not only standing on the sidewalk but also within part of the road with the intention so that motorist can see their whereabouts better which leads to traffic accident.

Deputy Director of Traffic Polda Metro Jaya, AKBP Tomex Korniawan, in Jakarta, Sunday (07/17/2011) is of the opinion that the 3 in 1 policy is no longer effective to ease traffic congestion in Jakarta. “On one side the 3 in 1 is meant to ease the congestion by limiting the use of private vehicles. But on the other hand, the growing number of jockeys in the area is more disturbing,” he said.

Tomex said that the police have no authority to evict those jockeys as it is the authority of Civil Service Police Unit from the municipal. “We can only expect the (local) government to do something to reduce the problem” said Tomex.

According to Tomex, it is about time the municipal to replace the 3 in 1 is with a paid roads system or electronic road pricing (ERP).

“The best solution is to implement ERP. But the ERP (implementation) itself is still long way away, because we must prepare the infrastructure and the regulation to support it” said Tomex.

Jakarta Municipal Head of Operational Department of Transportation Establishments, Arifin Hamonangan, also admitted that the 3 in 1 policy is no longer effective. “Yes, it’s not effective anymore,” said Arifin.

He did not deny that the ineffectiveness of the rule was partly caused by the presence of the many jockey 3 in 1. However, Arifin also said that the Jakarta Transportation Agency has no authority to control those jockeys as it is under the duties and functions of Civil Service Police Unit.

Recognizing the ineffectiveness of rules that are based on the Governor of Jakarta Decree No. 2054 of 2004, the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta and Metro Jaya Police are working on new ways to tackle the congestion problem.

“There are two programs that are being considered today. We are still assessing whichever is (more) effective,” said Arifin.

The solution is to disallow certain vehicles to enter the Sudirman and Thamrin road based on either the license plate or the color of the car.

In terms of supervision, according to him, it would be easier if the chosen system based on the color of the car.

He reasons that, not only officers, the public can also participate when seeing a vehicle passing specific areas. “People passing by can just shout at motorists who violate the rules. If it based on the license number, it is a bit more difficult to keep an eye on the plate. But it all depends on the results of the study,” Arifin said.

He added that the city government hopes a decision about a replacement of 3 in 1 will be ready and applied formally by September 2011.

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