Jakarta, March 2025, Important things to note before driving to your hometown are to ensure that preparations have been made. These preparations include personal health and vehicle condition to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Here are some tips when driving to your hometown:

1. Check the Vehicle Early

Before departing for the homecoming, check the vehicle first to know whether it is in good condition or not. This action is to minimize accidents. If you are not confident in checking it yourself, it is better to take it to an official workshop.

Check the vehicle starting from the condition of the tires, brakes, radiator water, oil, and engine. Additionally, the driver should have emergency equipment such as a spare tire, air pump, screwdriver, wrench, and whistle. This is to anticipate any problems during the journey.

2. The Driver's Physical Condition Must Be Healthy

In addition to the vehicle's condition, the driver's physical condition must also be healthy. This is because long-distance driving requires good physical condition. To maintain stamina, one should rest adequately for 6-8 hours, eat nutritious food such as vegetables and fruits, and drink enough water. Additionally, jogging or walking at least three times a week is recommended.

3. Rest When Tired While Driving

A long journey to the hometown can make the driver tired and even sleepy. It is advisable to stop at the nearest rest area, take a break or nap, and drinking coffee or tea can also help reduce drowsiness.

4. Obey Traffic Signs

When on a homecoming trip, drivers are required to obey every traffic sign and traffic signal regulations. This must be adhered to in order to minimize the potential risk of accidents.

5. Vehicle Speed on the Road

Every road has a maximum speed limit. Drivers must comply with the applicable speed limits. The speed regulations are in place to ensure the safety of road users and to anticipate accidents.

According to the site dephub.go.id, the speed limit for driving has been regulated by the Minister of Transportation Regulation Number PM 11 of 2015. This regulation pertains to the Procedures for Setting Speed Limits, where the minimum speed limit in free-flowing conditions is 60 km/h. Meanwhile, the maximum speed limit for highways is 100 km/h. 

The highest speed limit for intercity routes is 80 km/h, for urban areas the maximum speed is 50 km/h, and 30 km/h is the high speed in residential areas.

6. Maintain Driving Distance

Drivers must keep a distance from other vehicles to reduce the risk of sudden braking during rear-end collisions or pile-ups. To avoid this, you should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. The safe distance while driving is two-thirds of your vehicle's speed.

Wishing you a safe journey to your hometown!