Providing a Sense of Safety

Three days before the Idul Fitri holiday at the end of the Ramadan fasting month, authorities are reporting that the annual exodus has reached its peak. Severe congestion has been seen at several spots along the exodus routes.

We are grateful that the exodus of 13.6 million people from Greater Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi) towards their respective hometowns up until Sunday, July 3, has been relatively safe. This daily has reported that the peak of the exodus lies behind us. Congestion is still seen in several places due to the slow processing of toll fees, among other factors. However, no significant road accidents have been reported yet. This performance needs to be kept up.

In the remainder of the exodus and during the holiday travelers' journey back to Jakarta, the usage of non-cash payment at toll gates using electronic cards needs to be increased. This saves time. If manual payment takes six to eight seconds to complete, non-cash payment using the e-toll cards takes only three seconds. In the snarling traffic queues during the exodus period, using e-toll cards can improve the traffic flow. There needs to be a campaign aimed at gradually moving people from cash to electronic transactions. This requires information and a little enforcement.

Despite the good traffic flow up to three days ahead of Lebaran, the presence of police officers along the exodus routes is still needed. In social media we are still reading holidaymakers' complaints about the lack of a police presence to manage traffic at several congestion points along the exodus routes. We hope the authorities will show presence until the end of the exodus period.

Providing a sense of security is the responsibility of the police force and the government. A survey by this daily from July 1, 2016, reflects the public image of the police. The public expects the police to do better at serving the people and providing a sense of safety. Compared to last year, the police is seen to have improved in these two areas, though. Some 59 percent of respondents are satisfied with the police's duty in providing a sense of safety, and 61 percent of respondents are satisfied with the police's duty to serve the public. We hope that with the police's public presence on the ground, their public perception and image will improve further.

Maintaining public safety includes increasing patrols in deserted residential areas of Greater Jakarta during the Idul Fitri exodus period. Statistics show that assaults and robberies often occur around the Idul Fitri holiday. The police needs to ensure the safety of Idul Fitri celebrations. Providing a sense of security is the responsibility of the government, specifically the police, towards tax-paying citizens across the country.

Up to three days before the Idul Fitri holiday at the end of Ramadan fasting month, authorities are reporting that the annual exodus has reached its peak. Severe congestions has been seen across several spots on the exodus routes.

We are grateful that the exodus by 13.6 million people from Greater Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi) towards their respective hometowns up to Sunday, July 3, has been relatively safe. This daily has reported that the peak of the exodus has passed. Congestions are still seen across several places due to the slow process of toll fee payment, among others. However, there has yet to be any report of significant road accident. This situation needs to be maintained.

In the future, or in the rest of the exodus period, or during the holidaymakers' journey back to Jakarta, the usage of non-cash payment at toll gates using electronic cards needs to be increased. This saves time. If manual payment takes from six to eight seconds to complete, non-cash payment using the e-toll cards takes only three seconds. In the snarling traffic queues during the exodus period, using e-toll cards can improve traffic flow. Social engineering measures need to be implemented so that people will gradually move from doing cash-based transaction to electronic-based one. This needs lots of socialization and a little enforcement.

Despite the good traffic flow up to three days ahead of Lebaran, the presence of police officers along the exodus routes is still needed. In social media we are still reading holidaymakers' complaints about the lack of police presence to manage traffic at several congestion points along the exodus routes. We hope that the authorities will be present until the end of the exodus period.

Providing a sense of security is the responsibility of the police force and the government. A polling by this daily of July 1, 2016, shows the public image on the police. The public hopes that the police can improve their attempt in providing a sense of safety and serving the people. Compared to last year, the police is seen to have improved in these two sectors. Some 59 percent of respondents are satisfied by the police's duty in providing a sense of safety and 61/4 percent of respondents are satisfied by the police's duty to serve the public. We hope with the police's real public presence, their public perception and image will improve.

Maintaining public safety includes increasing patrols are emptied residential areas in Greater Jakarta during Idul Fitri exodus period. Current trend shows that assaults and robberies often occur around the Idul Fitri holiday. The police needs to ensure that the Idul Fitri celebration goes on safely. Providing a sense of security is the responsibility of the government, specifically the police, towards tax-paying citizens across the country.

 

Source Kompas, Monday, July 4, 2016