Jakarta – The Jakarta Police chief Ins. Gen. Tito Karnavian urged car drivers on Wednesday to keep a cool head in the city with the worst traffic in the world and, most importantly, try not to shoot each other.
Tito's statement came on the heels of two car shooting incidents occurring on toll roads in Jakarta recently.
Last week, a driver shot at another car on the Jakarta Outer Ring Road in Cipayung, East Jakarta. From his Kia Picanto, the driver shot at a Daihatsu Xenia, in response to being suddenly overtaken.
Even though there have been no casualties reported, the case is being handled by the East Jakarta police.
On Sunday, a similar incident occurred involving a Honda Jazz and a Toyota Avanza on the Jagorawi toll road, in Depok. The driver of the Honda has since reported the driver of the Toyota for shooting at his car.
The case is now under investigation with the military police because the shooter, who is still on the run, is allegedly a military officer.
"Both cases in East Jakarta and Depok happened because the drivers were too emotional. They tried to overtake each other," Tito said, as quoted by kompas.com.
Tito also called on car drivers to respect each other, particularly considering that the traffic congestion in the capital was worsening. "Everyone seems to be in a rush. I ask you all to be more patient," Tito said.
He also called on gun users to use their weapons strictly for safety measures and not for threatening others in the traffic. The police, Tito added, would also conduct routine monitoring on gun usage.
Jakarta gained the status as the city with the worst traffic in the world in a 2015 survey carried out by British lubricant producer Castrol. (ika)