Development of an integrated road safety management system in Indonesia: traffic police as lead agents in a safe system approach

In accord with the UN Global Decade of Action 2011-2020, Indonesia is committed to reducing its traffic fatalities by 50 percent by the end of 2020. Traffic accidents in 2010 were officially estimated to result in an annual social cost of about 3.1 percent of the Indonesian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising to 3.7 percent of GDP in 2011. With rapid motorisation associated with economic development, annual social costs could approach some AUD 39 Billion or 4.6% of GDP. The Indonesian National Traffic Police Corps role is specified in law relating to road traffic and transportation and includes responsibilities for: roadpolicing, traffic management and traffic enforcement; accident investigation; accident reporting and analysis; driver licensing; vehicle registration; and traffic education. Law 22/2009 provides the legislative framework for road safety activities, but the direction is provided by the National General Plan for Traffic and Road Transportation Safety which was released in 2011. The plan identifies five pillars on which to build road safety and traffic enforcement policies and actions: road safety management; safer roads; safer vehicles; safer road users; and, post crash care. To ensure that reliable and valid accident data are available, the police have with World Bank funding developed a web-based accident investigation system (AIS). After piloting in Central Java during 2012, the AIS is available nationwide. Access to comprehensive, reliable and accurate road accident data makes it possible to identify the specific roads, vehicles and road users which need to be targeted with road safety and traffic enforcement interventions. Not only is the IRSMS being used as an accident investigation and policing tool, the system is able to be used by road safety stakeholders. The ability to access up-to-date accident data coupled with the need for Local, Provincial and National road safety interventions, the IRSMS will aid decision makers to develop evidence based strategies to reduce casualties and improve road safety in Indonesia.