Optimizing a cost-free homecoming
To anticipate recurring homecoming incidents, the Ministry of Transportation decided to blacklist residents listed to join the cost-free homecoming program who cancelled without notifying ministry officials. The blacklisting will take the form of marking the citizens’ ID numbers (NIK) who register for multiple free homecoming programs.
The new regulation is applicable since the same applicants are registering for several free homecoming programs held by ministries or private companies. As a result, citizens registering for free homecoming programs at many places will leave seats unattended and unable to be used by other citizens. This issue should be further evaluated by the government and free homecoming program organizers.
Free homecoming programs initiated by companies or governments should be centrally organized through a single application provided by the Ministry of Transportation. Through this application, citizens can only choose one desired free homecoming program and cannot register for more than one. A centralized organization would make it easier for the government to record citizen mobilization. The collected data will be beneficial in formulating homecoming policies in succeeding years. Cancellations should be made with the shortest notification possible to allow other citizens to use the available slots. Sanctions can be imposed when seats are not used without prior notice, such as forbidding citizens from registering for the following year’s Eid-free homecoming program.
Free homecoming programs’ organizers from government agencies, private companies, and state-owned enterprises should coordinate to provide the best and safest service possible. Free homecoming programs should not only be conducted for a positive company image but also to sincerely assist citizens in transitioning from using motorcycles to using public transportation for homecoming.
Heads up for motorbike homecomers!
The government needs to pay attention to motorcycle travelers, by encouraging them to participate in mass homecoming programs in order to reduce the level of accidents.
Using motorcycles for long-distance travel is risky, especially since many residents intend to bring their spouses and children while riding motorcycles. Article 106 paragraph (9) of Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation (LLAJ) states that anyone driving a motorcycle without a sidecar is prohibited from carrying more than one passenger. A violation of this law may cause imprisonment for a maximum of one month or a maximum fine of IDR 250,000 (Article 292).
Therefore, motorcycle travelers should be prohibited from carrying excessive luggage and passengers. Travelers using trucks or pickup trucks should also be banned, as trucks and pickups are only allowed to carry goods, not people.
The upcoming 2024 Eid homecoming should be anticipated, as the 2023 Eid evaluation recorded 5,894 accidents with 726 fatalities during the homecoming period, with 76.87 percent of the accidents involving motorcycles.
Motorcycle travelers should be encouraged to participate in mass homecoming programs using buses or sea transportation, since the government has announced a free homecoming program from any port across Indonesia this year. Free sea transportation greatly helps residents returning to their hometowns compared to the high airfare rates (as a higher fare limit is applied) (TBA).