A tragic road collision in Bali, which claimed the lives of two young siblings, is an all too timely reminder to all road users in Bali to take a risk-averse approach.
20-year-old Gede Krisna Ari Putra and his 8-year-old sister Komang Karna Angga Wijaya died after a traffic collision on the Singaraja-Denpasar Highway this weekend.
The Singaraja-Denpasar Highway is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road. One reason is the high volume of traffic on the single-lane road.
With so much traffic travelling along each single lane at any given time, ranging from agile motorcycles to slower-moving construction trucks and buses, road users are known to embark on high-risk overtaking maneuvers to keep traffic flowing.
Even when overtaking seems safe, dangers await around every turn on Bali’s roads.
The Head of Public Relations of Buleleng Police, AKP Gede Darma Diatmika, confirmed the details of the traffic collision that claimed the lives of two young siblings around 4 pm on Saturday, 24th April 2025. The siblings were driving along the Singaraja-Denpasar Highway, through Banjar Dinas Lumbanan.
AKP Diatmika shared that 20-year-old Gede Krisna Ari Putra moved to overtake the car in front of him. However, as he pulled out in front of the car, he didn’t see a tourist bus driving in the opposite direction.
AKP Diatmika told the media, “When overtaking, at the same time came a bus with the Nopol L 7020 PRK, so the DK 5234 UBO motorcyclist was shocked and made a sudden braking, so the passenger who was carried fell to the right of the road mark.”
He added, “Next, the passenger of the motorbike was hit by the bus that came from south to north, so that a crash occurred.”
Local residents who witnessed the crash rushed to their assistance while others directed traffic around the scene. 8-year-old sister Komang Karna Angga Wijaya is reported to have died at the scene, while her brother passed away in hospital later that evening.
AKP Diatmika concluded “The latest information is that the motorcyclist also died around 8pm. The bus driver, we have still secured for questioning.”
Bali’s roads are statistically amongst the most dangerous in all of Indonesia.
Traffic collision data from the end of 2023 showed that over the course of just 12 months, the number of reported traffic collisions in the province doubled, making Bali the second most dangerous province to drive in in all of Indonesia.
The data revealed that Bali and East Kalimantan were the most dangerous provinces for driving in Indonesia in 2023, and little has changed between then and now.
Every week Bali records fatal collisions, accidents that cause life changing injuries and destroy vehicles. Tourists traveling to Bali are urged to consider whether self-driving around the island is the right option for them.
Tourists who decide to self-drive around the island are urged to be extremely cautious and not to start driving before all the relevant safety protocols are in place.
This included taking out fully comprehensive travel and health insurance and ensuring that the specific policy includes cover for traffic collisions.
Tourists must be sure to have the correct driving license for the vehicle they are driving and be sure to note that a car driving license does not automatically mean that a driver is licensed to drive a motorcycle.
Tourists must also abide by Indonesian traffic law, ensuring that their vehicle is insured, licensed, and roadworthy and that both driver and passengers use the appropriate safer equipment; e.g. wearing helmets or seatbelts.
No matter how experienced a driver may be, Bali’s roads have proven to be extremely dangerous and should be approached as such.
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Steve bm
Thursday 1st of May 2025
Anyone who frequently drives lovina - singaraja- Dps return knows these idiotic crazy mad bus drivers multiple buses that force everyone off the road going the other way not saying That was the case , also young motorbike riders I won't say more as it's very tragic, buses and the box pick-ups are the worst followed by cars that blatantly force oncoming traffic off the road
Jimmy
Thursday 1st of May 2025
It seems like local drivers and local road conditions are the problem here, but yeah lets plug insurance anyway LOL
Randy
Wednesday 30th of April 2025
RIP for these two Balinese people. A stark reminder that driving in Bali is not entirely safe and yet there are still a number of adventurous seasonal foreign tourists on the road. For some it is a rite of passage to drive in a challenging situation where some do NOT know fully or understand how the mentality actually works in Bali on the open road. Many locals also fear that seasonal tourists who are not familiar with the road etiquettes can also create accidents when it is not entirely the locals‘ mistakes. I have also seen a foreign motorcycle rider driving erratically as if he owns the two lane road.
I have to admit that those brave foreign tourists should get an award for driving most of the time without getting into any serious accidents during their vacation on the island of the gods. What more shocking I also have seen white kids younger than 15 y.o riding scooters without a helmet. How irresponsible of the parents...hey when in Rome do as the Romans do until something tragic happens. Oh well...
Solo59
Wednesday 30th of April 2025
It may be time to look at implementing more Stop Signs, Give Way signs , but also strictly enforcing further regulations. Limit overtaking only to where it's safe to do so etc. The use of helmets is still quite low as is seatbelt use in the front seat of vehicles despite it apparently being compulsory in Bali. Look to countries like Aust & NZ, the UK as we all have similar regulations on speed limits, passenger limits in cars, no free riding in the back of vans or pickups (Utes) ,mandatory drink driving laws, seatbelt use, helmet use , passenger overloading etc. The road toll will likely dramatically drop along with accident rates . It would be a long term process to educate drivers further ensuring that they are proficient & capable, and also enforcing an age limit in which a license is granted only after they have completed driver/rider proficiency training . Currently in aust its 16yrs & 9 months of age to gain a L plate or Learners permit. Then progressing to 2 more levels from there before being granted a full licence. Whether Bali can possibly adopt some of these changes may or may not be viable . But it may go some way into accident & Road toll reduction
Darren
Friday 2nd of May 2025
@Solo59, I feel safer on the road in Indonesia than I do in Australia. There is more community awareness of road danger in general and also a generally high skill level as the drivers start young. In Australia often the driving is usually at or near the legal speed limit often with no regard for the road conditions. This leads to a false sense of safety for many drivers. Very sad to read of the accident above and the passing of those people. I steer well clear of those buses and have witnessed some very unsafe driver behavior from them driving to a schedule.
Exp
Friday 2nd of May 2025
@Steve bm, Agree:
1) Add signs: Will immediately be stolen. Secondly nobody cares. 2) Add toll roads: Dramatic increase in speed and nasty accidents. Instead of 1-2 at a time it will be 10-20 down in the ensuing carnage. I talk from my experience driving on the Java toll (death) roads. 3) And on and on...
Steve bm
Thursday 1st of May 2025
@Solo59, This is bali your dreaming unfortunately
Jimmy
Thursday 1st of May 2025
@Solo59, or connect every city with 2 lane roads, or a small bike lane at a minimum. Smaller cities around indonesia with less micro economies have managed to sort it out, I’m not sure what is stopping the Balinese.
M
Wednesday 30th of April 2025
R.I.P Gede Krisna Ari Putra and Komang Karna Angga Wijaya, your life ended too soon ☹️ my deepest condolences to the family who lost their beloved kids.
Ashore
Friday 2nd of May 2025
@M, we don’t care. Bali sucks.