Old Bus Only Repainted to Deceive
"Companies Bypass Operation Rules"
Eleven people died in a bus accident on a road in Indonesia. Following the accident, authorities and the public focused their attention on Indonesia's 'terrible road conditions.' Recently, it has been reported that large-scale traffic accidents are increasing in Indonesia due to weak road safety regulations.
Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) highlighted a recent bus collision accident in Indonesia on the 16th (local time). The accident occurred on the 11th near West Java, southwest of Jakarta. At the time, a school bus carrying students collided with an SUV and three motorcycles while driving on the road, resulting in 11 deaths and 32 injuries.
The bus reportedly belonged to a local private transportation company called 'TPF.' The bus driver lost control and veered off the lane while turning downhill, eventually causing a chain collision with other vehicles. The bus driver, Mr. Sadira, survived but was immediately detained by the police and is currently under investigation. During the police investigation, he reportedly stated that "(the bus's) engine had a problem."
Recently, large-scale traffic accidents have been occurring one after another in Indonesia. In January, a school bus carrying high school students overturned, killing two people. Several years ago, a bus veered off the road and fell, killing 16 people.
The bigger issue is Indonesia's chronic road traffic regulation problems. The company 'TPF,' which operated the bus involved in the accident, was reportedly a company whose license was set to expire in December this year, was not registered with the transportation authorities, and did not originally have the qualifications to operate as a transportation company.
According to the local transportation authority's investigation, the brakes of the bus that caused the accident were found to be completely non-functional. Above all, the bus was over 18 years old. According to local law, public buses that have been in operation for more than 15 years must be decommissioned, but to avoid government oversight, the bus was remodeled to look like a 'new bus.'
As these facts came to light, local media and transportation-related organizations are demanding stricter traffic regulations. Joko Setiyarno, vice president of the Indonesian Transportation Association, criticized in an interview with local media, saying, "Many bus operating companies modify their buses to circumvent operating rules," and "(The bus involved in the accident) being in operation for over 15 years is a bureaucratic failure."
He urged, "Government agencies responsible for transportation must strengthen regulations to ensure compliance with existing rules," adding, "Strict enforcement of existing regulations alone is sufficient to guarantee public safety in the transportation sector."
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