REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TERNATE -- Inland waterway company PT ASDP in Ternate has prepared eight ships to carry post-fasting Idul Fitri holiday, or Lebaran travelers.
"The eight ships will operate from June 21 to August 5, 2014" Ali Tamher, of the ASDP Ternate, said here on Monday.
Of the eight ferries, three will transport passengers on the route from Bastiong Ternate-Rum, Tidore Kepulaua ports and Bastiong Ternate - Sofifi of North Maluku capital city.
For the two routes, ASDP provides more than one ship because they are heavily-traveled sea lanes in North Maluku.
The number of passengers using the two routes increases during the period beginning three days before D-Day and three days after D-Day in the post-fasting holidays season.
The post-fasting Idul Fitri holidays will fall on July 28 and July 29, 2014.
Some 27.9 million people in Indonesia are expected to travel home to celebrate the Islamic post-fasting celebration of Idul Fitri, up seven percent from last year, police said.
"The condition will certainly increase vulnerabilities, in terms of traffic," National Police Chief General Sutarman said in a written statement read by the governor of Riau province in Sumatra, Annas Maamun, at a roll call of forces assigned to ensure security during the large holiday event.
In view of the increase in traffic, Sutarman called on his staff to protect the public with sincerity, including maintaining safe traffic flows.
He said motorists must always be reminded about the importance of following traffic signs and making safety a priority.
"Stringent action should be taken against violators of traffic regulations, as they could threaten the safety of others," Sutarman said.
He added that the number of traffic incidents had increased from year to year, up by 101.61 percent from 2012 to 2013.
However, Sutarman said violations had been reduced by 29.77 percent last year and was a cause of pride among members of the force.
Further, the number of traffic violations in 2012 was recorded at 5,227, but in 2013 had fallen to 3,635.
Meanwhile, Sutarman said the number of traffic deaths had been reduced by some 12.44 percent from 900 in 2012 to 785 in 2013.
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