Bali Rental Vehicle Companies Warned About Tourists Violating Traffic Rules

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Individuals and business owners in Bali who rent out vehicles to foreign tourists have been warned to be more strict about leasing their cars and bikes. The warning comes from Bali Police, who have been a rise in traffic collisions and other violations involving foreigners, the majority of whom have been renting their vehicle from a local person or businesses.

In November 2022, Bali introduced an ETLE traffic management system, an electronic monitoring system that hands out fines digitally. Police have found that foreign drivers have been triggering the system with fines and police cautions being delivered to local vehicle rental owners. 

The Head of Public Relations of the Bali Regional Police, Kombes Bayu Satake, has told reporters, “Lately, there have often been traffic violations and traffic accidents experienced by foreign nationals. Foreigners use rental vehicles, but their lack of understanding of applicable traffic rules [is an issue]. Especially now that the National Police has implemented ETLE, which is installed at several points [across Bali]”. 

He has also called on rental vehicle owners to ensure that the people they rent their vehicles to have sufficient driving licenses and understand the rules of the road. Driving in Bali and Indonesia, more broadly, has different rules to many of the countries where tourists come from, whether that be Europe, North America, or Australia.

He urged rental owners and tourists who are renting vehicles to abide by the law. He noted that the most common violations include not wearing a helmet on a moped or motorbike, texting or using a phone while driving, and not wearing a seat belt in cars. 

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The Public Relations Leader continued, “We urge rental owners, both cars and motorbikes in all jurisdictions of the Bali Police, before renting vehicles to foreign and local tourists, to be reminded when driving that they must have a [license] and comply with applicable traffic rules.“

He has invited rental vehicle owners to do more to ensure that Bali’s roads are safer and that tourists take road safety seriously. He added, “If it is necessary, the rental owners are expected to prepare a guide to accompany the foreigner when driving on the main road. This is important because tourists do not really know the roads they will go through to enjoy the beauty of Bali.”

In another statement issued this week, Kombes Satake said that he and his teams also recommended that tourists hire a local driver where possible, especially for long journeys. “For tourists in Bali, if you want to use a motorbike or car rental service, the most important requirement is to [know] the vehicle and have an official license. If necessary, [hire] the driver is from a Bali…It will be easier if the local driver is driving their vehicle, those who know the Bali area.” 

Satake concluded, “We give this appeal to provide a sense of security and comfort, as well as safety when driving to tourists, both local and foreign, who want to enjoy the beauty of the island of Bali that we love.”

The statements come as traffic enforcement cameras in Denpasar and Badung have been catching more tourists violating the rules of the road and in light of three serious traffic incidents in the last few weeks. At around 1.30 pm on Monday, 16th January, a car driven by a Russian tourist with the initials DP, 25, crashed off the road in Bulling Regency and fell 25m into a ravine. The driver and three passengers, also Russian tourists, experienced serious injuries. 

On Saturday, 14th January, a 24-year-old Russian woman died after taking control of a moped she did not know how to drive in Ubud. She pulled on the throttle and immediately lost control of the bike and drove off the road, and fell 30m down a ravine. She died instantly. 

In Canggu, in the early hours of Tuesday, 10th January, local residents discovered the body of a 33-year-old Ukrainian tourist who had died after driving off the Canggu Shortcut and crashing into a water drainage canal.