Thousands of Vehicles Asked to Turn Back

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Police officers inspect vehicles at the Palimanan Toll Gate, Cirebon Regency, West Java, Thursday (6/5/2021). The blockages for the ban on mudik (exodus) by the Cirebon Police from 00.00 - 09.00 have overturned 221 vehicles.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Residents have not fully complied with the ban on the Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus). Thousands of vehicles used by the travelers were asked to make a U-turn and return to their initial departure points by police officers on the northern route or the southern route of Java Island.

According to Kompas\' observation in a number of areas on the first day of the ban on mudik, Thursday (6/5/2021), thousands of vehicles, both four-wheeled and two-wheeled, were asked to make a U-turn because the drivers and passengers could not show the required documents for mobility that were excluded during the mudik ritual.

In West Java, for example, yesterday, the police recorded that at least 1,200 vehicles were asked to return to their areas or origin. This showed that residents were still desperate to go home even though it had been banned.

Also read:

^ Traffic Scrutiny Tightened Against ‘Mudik’ Travelers

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"The blockage is effective in reducing the number of those who try to go home," said West Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Ahmad Dofiri while seeing the blockage at the Palimanan Tollgate , Cirebon regency, West Java, Thursday afternoon.

At Palimanan Tollgate, yesterday from midnight to noon, around 400 vehicles were asked to make a U-turn. The drivers of the vehicles were detected to be on mudik travel and could not show letters of assignment and documents on negative Covid-19 test results. Their vehicle plates were also outside the Cirebon area. Meanwhile, at the Cikampek Tollgate, 18 private cars were also asked to make a U-turn.

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

The police regulate the flow of traffic on the northern coast of the Weru area, Cirebon Regency, West Java, Thursday (6/5/2021) afternoon. Vehicles had to queue for about 1 kilometer before the Ramayana insulation post, Weru. The post was set up to prevent travelers during the May 6-17 mudik ban.

Likewise on the southern route of Java, namely Bandung, West Java, the police ordered 433 vehicles to turn back. "Of the eight blockade points, 1,815 vehicles were inspected, 433 vehicles were ordered to turn back. If they cannot show the documents, we will ask them to turn back,” said the head of the Bandung Police Traffic Unit, Comr. Rano Hadiyanto.

In the northern route of Central Java, namely Tegal and Brebes, the police detained 10 illegal travel vehicles carrying travelers. Previously, in Karawang, 32 illegal travel vehicles were also detained by the police.

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^ Village Task Forces Optimized as Residents Begin Mudik

^ Stopping Reckless ‘Mudik’ Travelers

^ ‘Blessed’ Homecoming and Indian Setback

In other areas, such as Surabaya, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Palembang, Banjarmasin and Papua, there were also hundreds of vehicles that were ordered by the police to make a U-turn.

Consistency is needed

Seeing this phenomenon, a transportation observer from Soegijapranata University, Djoko Setijowarno, said that the consistency of officers must be maintained. "The officers must be consistent in guarding the blockade points so that residents understand that this prohibition is serious. The blockade point should be guarded 24 hours so that no one can escape," said Djoko.

The officers, Djoko added, must also be aware of the possibility of other vehicles, such as logistical transportation, vegetable transportation, and even ambulances, being misused to transport residents who want to go home. (IKI/XTI/MEL/RTG/DIT/DKA/BRO/NAD/RAM/AIN/ NSA/JUM/ NIK/ WER/ HRS// FLO/ IDO/ GIO/ DAN/ ERK)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.