Bali Police Launch Road Safety Campaign For Tourists

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Road safety is something to take seriously wherever you are in the world. But in Bali, prioritizing road safety is ultra important.

Every year dozens of tourists end up in the ER, even the ICU, as a result of collisions on the roads. To help improve tourist awareness of the rules of the road and how to stay safe while driving in Bali, local police have launched a special campaign.

The Indonesian Police Traffic Corps, along with Jasa Raharja, have launched a road safety campaign in the most popular tourist resorts in Bali.

Brigadier General Era Nursatari told reporters, “We are holding a safety campaign. Bali is a tourist island, and after the pandemic, Bali is a fair crowded destination. Even though it is a tourist area, we will prioritize safety.”

Nursatari explained that the safety campaign is necessary due to the rising number of traffic violations committed by foreigners on the island.

From January to the end of July 2023, a total of 1,608 foreign tourists were caught violating traffic laws in Bali. This included offenses such as not wearing a helmet and not having a driving license. 

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Over 1,600 recorded traffic violated by foreigners in Bali is shocking, but perhaps what is more serious is the huge number of collisions that were reported to the police. During the same period, 51 foreigners were involved in traffic collisions that were reported to Bali police. 

Nursatari told reporters, “Every year, up to 27,000 people die [on the roads], so in every one hour, three people die. This is not something we take lightly.”

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The Director of Public Relations at Jasa Raharja, which is a state-owned social insurance company, outlined the objectives of the educational campaign.

Munadi Herlambang told reporters that the awareness campaign for tourists had been designed to establish more community discipline when it comes to obeying traffic laws, reducing the number of collisions and incidents on the roads, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting more safe and orderly conditions on the road. 

Herlambang explained, “This year, Jasa Raharja is committed to moving the safety campaign to preventative measures so that the culture and habits of the people are more orderly and concerned about safety.”

The company is also working with the Ministry of Education and Culture to teach road safety in schools across the country. 

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According to data from PT Jasa Raharja, the company has paid out IDR 39 billion in compensation to drivers in Bali so far this year.

Compensation has been awarded to both local drivers and foreigners, yet, naturally everyone wants to see traffic collisions reduced. 

Police and representatives from PT Jasa Raharja conducted traffic stops and chatted with tourists about road safety. They even gave out sponsored t-shirts for those who were driving well. 

There has been plenty of discussion in Bali this year about whether to ban all friends from hiring vehicles in Bali.

As it stands, foreigners are permitted to hire and drive motorcycles and cars in Bali, though there are a series of conditions that must be met first.

Foreigners must only hire a vehicle from a company registered with the relevant trade agencies and is licensed to rent vehicles.

Tourists must also be insured and have the correct driving licenses before heading out on the road.

Of course, all traffic laws must be adhered to, including wearing a helmet if driving a motorcycle and wearing a seatbelt in cars. 

The road safety campaign comes as news hits the headlines in Australia of a tourist in Bali who has been left to foot an AUD 370,000 medical bill after an awful traffic collision.

Blake Gibbs was on vacation in Bali and rented a scooter to explore Nusa Lembongan.

Tragically, Gibbs lost control of the moped and crashed into a wall, resulting in injuries that required him to be taken to a specialist hospital.

Although Gibbs had travel insurance, he did not tick the box on the form for added motorcycle cover.

Gibbs’ story is just one of many such strategies to have happened in Bali in recent weeks that must be taken as reminders to get insurance and priorities safe while on vacation.