Self-Awareness Keeps Mobility in Check

Good news has not yet arrived head of the new year. The planet is even haunted by the presence of the Omicron variant. The steps taken now will determine the course of 2022.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Police stop and distribute masks to motorists heading to Puncak who are not wearing masks at a monitoring post in Gadog, Bogor Regency, West Java, Sunday (12/26/2021).

Indonesia has taken a different step. A number of countries, such as the Netherlands, Portugal, Canada and South Korea, have reacted decisively by limiting the operating hours of cafes and restaurants, and locking down their territories. Indonesia has implemented the “gas and brake” policy.

The government has not completely banned the movement of people between cities or between islands at the year-end. City border restrictions have been lifted. The good news is that although the movement of people increased during Christmas, it was not too high.

Congestion was observed only from kilometer marker (KM) 61 to KM 41 on the Cikampek-Jakarta Toll Road heading towards Jakarta on Sunday (26/12/2021). As for regular travel on the Cikampek-Jakarta Toll Road, congestion along this stretch was normal. A confluence of traffic flows from Central Java and Bandung (West Java) headed to Jakarta occurred at KM 66 of the toll road.

Also read:

> Omicron Cases Continue to Rise

> Riding out the Omicron storm

Only a slight increase was observed in the volume of vehicles going in and out of Jakarta using toll roads. According to toll road operator PT Jasa Marga Tbk, 1.42 million vehicles left Jakarta and its surrounding areas in the eight days preceding Christmas 2021. The vehicular volume was up only 5 percent compared to the normal figure.

Meanwhile, according to data from the Transportation Ministry showed that passenger mobility by land transportation at Christmas 2021 increased 30 percent compared to Christmas 2020. The passenger mobility by train increased 27.37 percent, passenger mobility by airplane dipped 5.01 percent, and passenger mobility by sea decreased 36.07 percent, while passenger mobility by ferry decreased 11.69 percent.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Vehicles queue from the Jagorawi toll road in Gadog, Bogor Regency, West Java, heading towards Puncak, Thursday (12/23/2021). Towards the Christmas holidays, the traffic conditions to Puncak began to be busy. Starting Friday (12/24/2021) to Sunday (2/1/2022), traffic to the Puncak area will be applied odd-even for 24 hours.

Increased passenger mobility was recorded only for travel by road and trains. The phenomenon occurred, despite the obligation for travelers to take an antigen or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before departure.

The biggest test at the end of 2021 is related to the restrictions on activities at malls and tourist attractions. According to Google’s Covid-19 Community Mobility Report as of 23 Dec. 2021, trips to shopping malls increased 10 percent and trips to tourist attractions, such as parks or beaches, increased 9 percent. Meanwhile, commuter travel for work fell 12 percent.

The management of malls, tourist attractions, and other places where crowds can gather should have awareness in taking part in the efforts to maintain the health of the country. They must realize that if the country's health deteriorates, the economy will collapse again. The use of the PeduliLindungi Covid-19 application, which has relaxed in a number of locations, must be resumed.

Also read:

> Watch out for Increased Mobility at Year-end

> Omicron Variant Might Enter Indonesia in November

Self-awareness to curb mobility is also required of us all. What does the odd-even policy on various roads mean without self-awareness? It is common knowledge that middle-class households in the capital have cars with both odd and even license plate numbers to get around the regulation.

In the next few weeks, vaccinations for schoolchildren will also be expanded. It would be nice if travel plans are postponed until our children are fully vaccinated.

We also want to again point out that, of the additional 27 confirmed cases of Omicron on Sunday (26/12), the majority indeed came from abroad. Discipline in safeguarding the arrival of international travelers is exceptionally important.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.