Traffic accidents down 75 percent during Eid Al-Fitr Holiday

Jakarta (ANTARA) -
The number of traffic accidents dropped by 75 percent during the Eid Al-Fitr Holiday this year, to 563 accidents, from 2,234 accidents during the same period last year.

"The most important thing for the Transportation Ministry is safety. Alhamdulillah (Thank God) there has been a significant decrease in traffic accidents, down by more than 70 percent," Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said here on Friday.

Material losses have also dropped 72 percent from Rp6.2 billion during the 2018 Eid Al-Fitr season, to Rp1.7 billion during the same period this year.

The number of deaths in traffic accidents during the holiday season also decreased by 74 percent, from 528 last year to 137 this year.

The number of seriously injured people was down by 78 percent, from 493 people to 106 people. For less serious injuries, the number decreased by 77 percent, from 2,947 people to 684 people.

Sugiharjo, head of the ministry's research and development department, explained that the number of traffic accidents decreased, in part, due to fewer homebound travelers driving motorcycles, which were down by 2.75 percent.

"This condition has contributed positively to the decrease in traffic accidents," he said.

In addition, the number of free ride programs provided for homebound travelers by companies and government officers increased significantly.

The number of holidaymakers joining the free-rides reached 511,413 people, up 68.54 percent from 303,429 people using free rides in the 2018 Eid Al-Fitr exodus by railway, ships, boats, buses, and planes.

Also, the Jakarta administration provided free rides to 17,427 people during this year's Eid Al-Fitr holiday.

Most Indonesian Muslims follow the tradition of celebrating Eid al-Fitr in their hometowns with their families. As a result, there is an exodus of travelers, particularly from cities to villages, during the holiday season.

Over the last few years, the government has encouraged homebound travelers to not travel by motorcycles on their journeys home. For this reason, the government has provided free rides to those heading home for the holidays.
(INE)