Jakarta – The National Police will continue the counterflow policy in the trans-Java toll road network during the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) following a fatal crash in one section of the network in West Java, but its implementation will depend on traffic conditions.
At least 12 people died on Monday morning after a minibus traveling on a counterflow lane changed lanes and crashed into an oncoming bus at kilometer 58 of the busy Jakarta-Cikampek toll road in West Java, forcing the police to evaluate the overall implementation of the counterflow policy.
Speaking after the meeting with the Transportation Ministry on Monday evening, National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said counterflow lanes were still needed for the mudik season.
"The counterflow lane policy will be implemented in areas where it is needed," Listyo added, as quoted from a Kompas TV news clip. He urged people to take frequent rests during their journeys.
Counterflow lanes are among traffic policies the police have put in place on Java's main toll roads since the beginning of mudik on Friday to ease gridlock during what is expected to be the biggest mudik in Indonesia's history. Their implementation is flexible, depending on traffic conditions on the ground.
In certain spots, the police are considering replacing counterflow lanes with one-way traffic and vice versa, Listyo said.
So far, counterflow lanes have been put in place mostly on stretches of the Jakarta-Cikampek and Cikampek-Palimanan toll roads for vehicles heading east at certain hours of the day. The policy will be implemented for vehicles heading back to Jakarta after Idul Fitri.
But with the road crash in Cikampek, National Police traffic corps chief Insp. Gen. Aan Suhana was quoted on Antara as saying: "There's probably a new formula for the return flow which we will discuss first with all relevant stakeholders. Of course we will put safety and smooth [traffic flow] first."
The police are still investigating why the minibus swerved into the oncoming traffic. (dds/ipa)