Thread: Can Indonesia put the brakes on fatal accidents during end-Ramadan travel rush?

JAKARTA: All the sisters wanted for the Islamic holiday Idul Fitri was to spend time with relatives and visit the grave of their recently deceased father in Kuningan, a mountainous Indonesian regency 270km away from their homes in the outskirts of Jakarta.
But tragedy struck less than a third into their journey. The sisters - Najwa Ghefira, 22 and Aisya Hasna Humaira, 19 - had their lives cut short when the rental minivan they were in suddenly veered to the right and rammed into an oncoming bus.


All 12 people in the minivan died in the Apr 8 morning crash. The bus occupants were largely unscathed, except for the backup driver who was rushed to hospital. He was not seated at the time and was flung to the front of the vehicle.


This was but one of nearly 2,900 accidents recorded across Indonesia during the festive period this year - and the tally is already lower than in previous years.


Even as authorities strive to bring down the numbers, analysts caution that a long road lies ahead, citing long-standing issues such as lack of infrastructure and lax attitudes towards safety that need to be properly addressed.


A COSTLY TOLL


Idul Fitri, which fell on Apr 10 this year, marks the end of the fasting month Ramadan. Every year, millions of people in Muslim-majority Indonesia travel from the cities to their hometowns and villages, a tradition known locally as mudik, to celebrate the occasion with their families.


The Indonesian Ministry for Transportation estimates that 193 million people performed mudik this year, a 13.7 per cent increase from the year before.

While typically a time of joy and festivities for Muslims around the world, Idul Fitri is also a time of grief and mourning for Indonesians who lose their family members and friends to mudik-related accidents.


This year’s mudik season lasted from Apr 4 to 18. During this time, the Indonesian Traffic Police Corps recorded 2,895 accidents which resulted in 429 deaths.


The figure is lower than the years before, except for 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak. During the 2023 mudik season, there were 3,412 accidents and a death toll of 519. The year before, there were 4,107 accidents, killing a total of 568.

Remainder of article here. Mourning amid merriment: Can Indonesia put the brakes on fatal accidents during end-Ramadan travel rush? - CNA



And we think Songkran is bad!

I suspect that many Asian cultures place greater emphasis on the family, because the culture plays a greater part In the social welfare of dependents, than developing country government can presently do.

^yes, because social programs (esp for the elderly) and health services may be lacking. The family is where people turn to in times of need. Also, Asian societies are more collectivist while western ones are more individualistic.

In Western countries, it's common to move out of the house at 18 (or whichever age of majority). The young adults work or if they wish to study, they can get student loans (if in the US; in many Euro countries uni is free or subsidised). In many Asian countries, it's common for young adults to continue to stay with their parents until they get married. (Though some move out due to job location or just want independence).

In some Asian societies, it's also considered bad form to stand out. There's a Japanese saying similar to: the nail which sticks out is hammered (or something like that).

Asian societies (and I think Latin American too) are more respectful in terms of how they address people, esp elders. We call elders (even if not relatives) as uncle, auntie, elder bro, elder sis, etc. If not close, then it's sir or ma'am/ madame.

Originally Posted by misskit

And we think Songkran is bad!

I'd venture to suggest that per capita they are worse.

Dont forget Indonesia is a country of 320 Million and that mudik is the second biggest annual migration of humans after Chinese New Year. The one saving grace is that Indonesians typically do not drink and drive (because many do not drink at all) - otherwise the carnage would be multiplied horrifically.

So Thailand had more than half as many deaths with a fifth of the population.

To Be Nuuuumber One...

Originally Posted by katie23

In many Asian countries, it's common for young adults to continue to stay with their parents until they get married.

I think it's common in some southern european countries too.