Bandung, West Java (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Transportation is bolstering safety management systems for public transport operators (SMK PAU) and stepping up oversight against overloaded vehicles to curb traffic accidents and road fatalities.
“We want to ensure that every journey begins with a safe system, alongside consistent and effective oversight,” the ministry’s Director General of Land Transportation Aan Suhanan said during a Transportation Journalists Forum workshop in Bandung, West Java, on Friday.
He noted that the number of land transport accidents and resulting fatalities remains a serious concern.
According to National Police Traffic Corps data, 141,608 traffic accidents were recorded in 2025, claiming 21,717 lives. He said these figures have prompted the government to continuously step up efforts to improve road safety.
Aan emphasized that the high incidence of traffic accidents must not be overlooked and that safety must remain the top priority.
“The frequency of traffic accidents and the death toll are deeply alarming. Although accidents stem from many variables, the government must continue to prioritize safety to bring down accident rates and fatalities,” he remarked.
To bolster safety management systems for public transport operators, the ministry seeks to integrate licensing systems, adopt a rating system to evaluate key safety elements, synchronize quality assurance units and audits, and implement competency assessments and certifications for personnel drafting SMK PAU documents.
According to Aan, safety management systems in public transport companies play a crucial role in preventing accidents.
“Companies that fully and effectively implement all 10 elements of the SMK PAU tend to be rarely involved in accidents,” he added.
Furthermore, the ministry also aims to achieve zero percent overloaded vehicles to boost road safety.
“According to National Police Traffic Corps data, freight transport accounts for around 10 percent of traffic accidents,” Aan noted.
He affirmed that the government is pursuing its zero-overloaded vehicle policy through several approaches, including regulatory reform by proposing stronger freight transport provisions in the ongoing revision of Law No. 22 of 2009 on Road Traffic and Transportation.
On the enforcement front, the government is shifting from conventional oversight to technology-based monitoring via ETLE HUB.
Aan added that oversight is also being stepped up at ferry hubs to monitor freight transport, ensuring vehicles entering ships meet allowable load capacity and dimension limits.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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