Traffic Rules That Drivers Must Not Forget

Driving on the roads, especially on the toll roads, should not be done carelessly. If you do not follow the traffic rules that apply in your area, you risk endangering your own safety and that of others. On toll roads or busy main roads, the risk of accidents will increase if you neglect and violate driving regulations.

Regarding traffic regulations, each region can actually have its own policies. Although in some cases there are also regions with the same regulations, such occurrences are quite rare. This is intended to meet the needs of the community so that the existing regulations are made as detailed as possible to avoid misunderstandings.

In addition to being aimed at the safety and comfort of all road users, traffic regulations are not always made for those interests. Some regulations are created to address various social and environmental issues. One of them is the implementation of the odd-even system in Jakarta, which has been in place since 2016 to replace the long-standing 3 in 1 system in Jakarta.

Essentially, the odd-even system in Jakarta is implemented to reduce the population of private vehicles that have been the primary choice for Jakarta residents for years. Additionally, this system also aims to reduce fuel consumption, which is one of the causes of air pollution in Jakarta. This is deemed very appropriate considering that the capital city of Indonesia is always among the cities with the worst traffic congestion and air pollution in the world.

Odd-Even Rules in Jakarta

If you are driving in Jakarta, it is advisable to first understand the odd-even system rules to avoid mistakes that could lead to fines. The odd-even system rules are actually not too difficult. However, if you are not used to it, you might forget them. Here are the traffic rules that apply to the odd-even system in Jakarta.

1. The odd-even system only applies on weekdays, Monday to Friday, except on national holidays.
2. It applies for 2 periods: in the morning from around 06:00-10:00 WIB and in the afternoon from 16:00-20:00 WIB.
3. On odd dates, some roads implementing the odd-even system only allow vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers, while on even dates, only vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers are allowed.
4. The odd-even system does not apply to electric vehicles.
5. The implementation of the odd-even system applies up to the toll gate.

Although these rules are binding, there are some vehicles that receive exemptions. Usually, exemptions are also made during important events, such as the 2018 Asian Games, to facilitate operations. 

Vehicles Exempt from the Odd-Even Rule

Here are some vehicles that are exempt from the odd-even rule in Jakarta, including:

1. State leader vehicles, including the president, vice president, chief justice, and so on.
2. Vehicles of foreign leaders or officials and international organizations.
3. Government-owned service vehicles.
4. Fire trucks.
5. Ambulances.
6. Public transport with yellow license plates.
7. Freight transport.
8. Motorcycles.
9. Vehicles for specific purposes, such as ATM filling vehicles, vehicles owned by Bank Indonesia, and so on.

You should know that the exemption regulations can change depending on needs. For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jakarta provincial government plans to eliminate the odd-even system on the capital's roads starting September 14. This rule is made considering that the local government will implement Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) in total due to the increasing number of positive Covid-19 cases in Jakarta and its surroundings. Therefore, it is hoped that with this regulation, people with urgent needs will have more freedom and act more quickly.