SBY launches nationwide traffic safety program

JAKARTA. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched on Sunday a nationwide movement on traffic safety to address the country’s high number of fatal accidents.

The launch of the campaign, called the National Traffic Safety Pioneering Movement, took place at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

“Let us be serious in all our efforts to prevent traffic accidents. All parties are responsible and must be involved in this effort," he said.

First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Vice President Boediono and his wife Herawati Boediono as well as several Cabinet members were also present at the event.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, in his speech, cited World Health Organization (WHO) data showing that every day, across the world, 1.24 million people died due to road accidents and 50 million were severely injured or even paralyzed.

“The number is even higher than the casualties caused by the Gulf War when about 1.2 million people were killed,” he said.

Domestically, Sutarman said, more than 25,000 people had died in traffic accidents in 2013, mostly motorcyclists. On average, more than 70 people were killed on Indonesian streets every day, he added.

On the sidelines of the event, Yudhoyono held a video conference with the chiefs of the traffic police in East Java and Central Java.

A marching band performed a song titled “Go Forward, My Country” written by Yudhoyono.

The President recently became target of criticism after approving the low-cost green car (LCGC) policy, which many said would boost the number of vehicles on the road and increase accidents. The policy exempts new cars with low fuel consumption from luxury-goods sales tax. (Bagus BT Saragih)