The West Java provincial authority has suggested several measures to relevant authorities to prevent the recurrence of traffic accidents following the mishap on Sultan Agung Road, Bekasi, Wednesday (August 31), which claimed 11 lives.
Governor Ridwan Kamil stated that his side had suggested the relevant authority to restrict the movement of large vehicles at noon in congested areas.
“We have sent letters (to the relevant authorities) to restrict (the movement of) large trucks at noon in congested areas. We hope they will respond (to the proposal),” Kamil stated during his visit to the accident site in front of Kota Baru II and III Public Primary School here, Thursday.
Apart from proposing movement restrictions for large vehicles, the authority also urged the school management to prevent their pupils from crowding along the roadside by redirecting access to a less congested road beside the school complex.
“Parents are (the pupils’) teachers at home, while teachers are (the pupils’) parents at school. This means physical and mental safety (must be ensured) not only at school but also when the pupils leave the school,” the governor remarked.
Kamil urged the municipal authority to review the placement of communication poles, as Thursday’s accident involved a trailer truck striking down a communication pole, thereby causing it to collapse and block the entire road lane on either side.
“The permit is within the jurisdiction of the municipal government, and we need to pay attention to this,” he noted.
While opining that safety zones set up at the public road in front of the school might be inadequate, the governor spoke of having received the proposal to construct a pedestrian bridge for the school.
“The solution is to develop a system to monitor (pupils’) arrivals and departures. Regarding the proposal to construct a pedestrian bridge, me and the mayor will help expedite the process. Thus, parents, who drop their children at school, need not cross the road amid dangerous traffic,” Kamil remarked.
Source: Antara News