REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG -- The number of traffic accidents that took place during Eid or Lebaran this year declined as compared to that during the festival last year, according to Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan.

"The flow of travelers during Eid was smooth this year. The rate of traffic accidents decreased from that last year," the minister said after inspecting Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.

He added that there was a 10 to 20 percent decline in the number of traffic accidents from that recorded the previous year.

According to a report he had received, Jonan stated that 2,561 cases of traffic accidents were recorded in the period between seven days before (D-7) and two days after (D+2) Lebaran.

This is fewer than the number of traffic accidents that occurred in the same period last year, which stood at 3,004.

However, Minister Jonan could not reveal the number of lives lost during these accidents this year.

Also, the decline in these mishaps was majorly because travelers maintained better discipline on roads.

On Monday, the police pointed out that as many as 440 people had died in various traffic accidents that took place across the country during the Eid holiday.

"During the Ketupat Operation conducted till two days after Eid, the number of deaths caused by road traffic accidents reached 440," Head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police Brigadier General Agus Rianto revealed here on Monday.

A total of 2,148 traffic accidents were recorded since the Ketupat Operation began on July 9 till two days after Eid. As many as 440 people died in this period; 766 were seriously injured; and 2,774 sustained minor injuries.

Two days after Eid, which fell on Friday, July 17, a total of 197 traffic accidents occurred across the country, claiming 48 lives, seriously injuring 68, and inflicting minor injuries on 285 others.

On the second day after Eid, the number of victims who sustained serious and minor injuries dropped from that in the corresponding period last year.

"The number of traffic accidents on the second day was 15 percent lower than that in the same period last year, while the number of people seriously injured decreased 30 percent. Also, the number of people who sustained minor injuries declined by 11 percent," he remarked.

To ensure security and the smooth flow of holiday traffic, the police have deployed 82,539 personnel for the Ketupat Operation, which will be conducted till July 25.

Moreover, the military has deployed 12,761 personnel, and other related agencies have assigned 50,377 personnel. Therefore, as many as 145,676 personnel have been fielded for the Ketupat Operation.

They have been stationed at 3,030 security posts and 1,083 service posts along routes that will be used by Eid travelers across the country.

Furthermore, Minister Jonan noted that the primary constraints on the smooth flow traffic were a result of natural causes, particularly the eruptions of Mount Raung in East Java and Mount Gamalama in Maluku.

He also admitted that over the past several days, Java's northern and southern highways witnessed traffic congestions, with travelers returning after Eid.

"Offices open today. So there were gridlocks ahead of the working days," he explained.

In addition, Jonan predicted that several roads will witness traffic jams on Friday and Saturday, as well, because some travelers rejoin work next week.

"Anticipatory measures must be taken because Friday and Saturday will see high flow of traffic," he stressed.

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