The number of fatal traffic accidents during this year's Idul Fitri exodus nearly doubled, according to the latest statistics.
"Boy rafli Amar said that during the Ketupat operation, there were 5634 motorcycle accidents, 1188 private car accidents, 276 bus accidents, 658 cargo vehicle accidents and 104 non motor vehicles accidents [which include bicycles, becaks and delmans]. The total accidents was 7,870," spokesman of the National Police Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Monday.
"From that figure, 908 people died." By contrast, there were 490 fatal accidents last year. Boy said the main factors behind the accidents were driver negligence, speeding, slippery roads and recklessness when passing other vehicles. Boy also said 69 percent of all accidents involved motorcycles.
Traffic accidents this year caused an estimated 1,505 people to suffer serious injuries, while 5,139 sustained minor injuries. The material losses caused by the accidents during the 16 days exodus an estimated Rp 11.8 billion ($1.2 million).
"There were 227 traffic accidents on Aug. 26 with 39 dead, 67 people heavily injured and 226 suffering minor injuries, with material losses of [approximately] Rp 383,000,000."
Most of the accidents occurred in Central Java, East Java, West Java, Jakarta and Bali, Boy said.
"Recklessness, weak physical condition and long distances have also influenced [the accidents]," Boy said. "Hopefully people will keep being careful, and learn from their experiences."
Deputy speaker of the House of Representative Pramono Anung criticized the government for the high number of fatalities. "The government should have implemented annual exodus traffic management," Pramono said.
Saleh Husin, a member of House Commission V that oversees transportation, said the commission would summon the Transportation Ministry, the Public Works Ministry, the police and public transportation companies to discuss this year's deadly exodus, or mudik. The Ministry of Health will also evaluate the high number of casualties during annual exodus this year.
"We're really concerned, as it happens every year," Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said on Monday. "We have been doing some improvements, including driver health checks of blood pressure and whether they use stimulant medicines – but the traffic accidents increased compared to last year."
Nafsiah said she would also evaluate whether the casualties died at the scene of the accidents, in transit to the hospital or at the hospital. "We have been told that many victims were 'undisciplined' motorcyclists," she said. "But we still have to evaluate this in a systematical way."