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Photo: Eighteen individuals were killed when a private bus was struck by a train and dragged for about 200 metres (AFP: Adek Berry)Indonesia has pulled 1,600 private buses off its roads after a weekend bus crash in which 18 people died.
Witnesses say the driver of a Metro Mini bus ignored a warning siren at a level crossing in West Jakarta and drove around a safety barrier onto train tracks.
The bus was struck by a train and dragged for about 200 metres.
Eighteen individuals have been killed, including the driver and his assistant. There was just 1 survivor.
It is at least the 32nd accident at a level crossing in Jakarta this year, numerous of them involve buses that are frequently stopping to pick up passengers.
Critics say driver coaching is poor and the buses are in terrible condition.
Removing private buses will make life even much more difficult for frazzled commuters in a city where kids and toddlers ride on their parents’ motorbikes, without having helmets, painted lane markings are there for decoration rather than guidance, and a red site visitors light means the car behind yours has to stop.
Jakarta’s transport office says it has pulled 1,600 Metro Minis off the road, despite the fact that on the streets, there seem to be plenty of the buses remaining.
Photo: Jakarta’s transport office says it has pulled 1,600 Metro Minis off the road, despite the fact that numerous seem to be nevertheless operating (ABC News: Adam Harvey)On a wet Jakarta weekday, the visitors slows to walking pace, which tends to make it a lot less difficult for commuters to jump aboard a faded orange Metro Mini.
The mid-sized buses do not have designated stops, so passengers get on and off where they like.
There is a affordable possibility of obtaining bowled over by a scooter on the journey from the footpath to the bus, but at 40 cents a ride, most passengers think it is worth the danger.
In regards to the security, no matter how it is, when it really is time to die, you are going to die anyway.
Andi, Jakarta bus passenger
“In regards to the safety, no matter how it is, when it really is time to die, you are going to die anyway,” mentioned passenger Andi.
One particular passenger, Sadzili, has been catching the orange bus for ten years.
“I consider it really is protected. I am just a small bit worried when about to cross a rail track,” he stated.
A busker, Heri Sandi, climbs aboard in the stalled visitors.
“In a single day I will get on about 70 to 80 buses from the morning to the afternoon,” he stated.
The accident has been on his thoughts.
“I am scared for certain,” he stated.
“The bus tipped over like that and individuals died being crushed.”
Photo: Private bus drivers in Jakarta tackle busy road situations, but critics say driver education is poor and the buses are in terrible condition (ABC News: Adam Harvey)One more passenger, Hamim, is dubious about recalling the buses.
“About plans like that, nicely before they take these buses off the streets they need to have to offer the replacements,” Hamim mentioned.
“Without having any replacement what would passengers do?”
Andi wishes Jakarta could emulate the transport of other cities.
“Air conditioned, exactly where they queue in order, like they have overseas,” he stated.
“They queue, there’s discipline, in contrast to what we have here.
“In Singapore and Europe, they queue, they quit in suitable stops.
“Right here they quit wherever they want to stop.”
It is hoped a new underground train line, due to be completed in about 3 years, will remove some of the dangers of the road for the city of ten million folks.
Topics: road, indonesia, asia