Bandung police urge motorcyclists to turn headlights on during day

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

West Java police are calling on motorcyclists in the province to switch on their headlamps during the day to improve visibility to other road users.

Some motorcyclist have rejected that advice, arguing it only wastes energy, while others hope it will make two-wheeled travel safer.

Bandung traffic police have been conducting public awareness campaigns once every two days by holding convoys around the city involving hundreds of motorcycles.

The deputy director of the West Java Traffic Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Sukamto, said the new guideline was based on a circular issued by the West Java Traffic Directorate after Jakarta and East Java tried the policy.

"Based on reports, the accident rate in East Java has dropped by around 20 percent now," said Bambang.

He said road safety was especially crucial to motorcyclists since 70 percent of the traffic accidents in West Java involve motorcycles.

Bambang said there were nearly 2 million motorcycles in the province in 2006, with the number increasing at an average rate of 13,000 units per month. Private cars, trucks and buses accounted for only around 700,000 units.

"We provide extra protection for motorcyclists because accidents involving motorcycles usually are quite deadly. Aside from helmets, they have no bumpers or protective shells like cars," said Bambang.

Some 73 percent of the 212 traffic accidents in Bandung last year involved motorcycles.

Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada and city police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Suparsono officially launched the headlight campaign Tuesday by joining a motorcycle convoy.

No law has yet been issued to discipline motorcyclists who do not switch on their headlamps during the day, and no fines are being imposed. The West Java police are still deciding where to apply the headlight policy.

"We'll prioritize areas which are congested with motorcycles, such as Bandung, for instance," said Bambang.

Despite the fact that nearly all motorcyclists have heeded the advice, some are still unwilling to turn on their lights in the daytime.

Rudiyanto, 36, from Buah Batu, is among the critics of the new policy.

"If I turn the light on day and night, I could drain the battery. Are the police going to replace it?" he quipped.

Many automobile drivers were pleased with the new policy, however. Faisal, 34, said he felt more relaxed driving in dense traffic in Bandung because he could more easily spot a motorcycle in his rear-view mirror.

"They usually slip in and out unnoticed, and suddenly they are hit by a car, or they pass you and stop suddenly right in front of you. Sometimes I can't see them, especially when it's already dark," said Faisal.