Traffic Engineering: Definition, Benefits & Types

Traffic engineering is often carried out by the police in Indonesia, especially at the end and beginning of the year or during the Eid homecoming. Although this program is frequently organized, there are still members of the public who do not understand it. To help you understand better, let's take a look at the following review.

Understanding Traffic Engineering

Traffic engineering is a program organized by the police to redirect overly congested roadways to other routes.

According to Government Regulation No. 32 of 2011 Article 1, traffic engineering refers to a series of planned activities or efforts to install, arrange, and maintain road facilities to achieve safety, order, and smoothness in driving.

Benefits of Implementing Traffic Engineering

The implementation of traffic engineering certainly has significant goals and benefits for road users. Here are the complete benefits.

1. Smooth traffic conditions and enhance user safety

The first benefit of implementing traffic engineering is that it can make traffic conditions smoother. As is known, the number of vehicle owners in Indonesia continues to rise every year. This condition can lead to congested roadways, especially during the Eid homecoming and New Year.

The increase in the number of drivers and road users during these moments often creates new problems. For example, drivers may lose their lives due to exhaustion during traffic jams. To address these issues, the police sometimes implement a one-way system.

2. Addressing congestion

By implementing this engineering, serious congestion can be addressed, such as the implementation of a one-way system on the Cikampek toll road. This engineering is usually applied during the Eid homecoming or year-end holidays.

During these moments, many roads often become paralyzed and congested. With the implementation of this system, road capacity becomes more relaxed.

3. Reducing air pollution

The next benefit is that it can reduce air pollution in certain areas, so the air inhaled does not significantly disrupt health. This condition is a positive impact of the odd-even system.

Types of Traffic Engineering

In Indonesia, traffic engineering is divided into several types. Here are the complete types.

1. Odd-even

The first type of engineering is the odd-even system. This term may not be unfamiliar to you, as it is often implemented and broadcasted on television. This program only allows vehicles with license plates ending in the same number as the date of that day. To avoid confusion, let's consider the following analogy.

For example, if today is January 15, 2023, then only cars with odd-numbered plates can pass through areas where the odd-even program is implemented. This program is usually enforced in Jakarta to reduce congestion in the capital. However, this program was also implemented in several areas outside Jakarta during the recent Covid-19 pandemic.

2. Contraflow

The second type is the contraflow system. As the name suggests, the police will change the normal direction of the road to the opposite direction. For example, if the westbound lane in a certain area is too congested while the eastbound lane is still clear, then part of the eastbound lane can be closed and used for drivers heading west.

3. One way

The last type can be referred to as the one-way system because it changes two-way roads into one-way roads. This engineering is usually implemented to address congestion in toll areas due to Eid homecoming or year-end holidays.

Hopefully, the review above can enhance your knowledge.

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