Local residents in the mountainous region of Puncak in Indonesia’s West Java province experienced what they described as the “worst” traffic congestion during the long weekend ending on Monday to commemorate the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Holiday-goers found themselves stuck on the road for upwards of 14 hours, with photos shared on social media showing vehicles bumper to bumper as motorists turned off their engines and waited by the roadside.
One resident named Ade told news outlet Detik that he was stuck in the traffic jam for about 14 hours from the previous afternoon until the next morning. Another resident named Yuli, who was on her way to Taman Safari, a famous zoo in Bogor, shared a TikTok post that went viral. She documented being stuck in the congestion from 10 am on Sep 15 until the morning of Sep 16, eventually cancelling her outing to the zoo.
A Puncak resident commenting on Ms Yuli’s post claimed that Sep 15 was the worst traffic jam in the history of the region. Police reported that there were a total of 140,000 vehicles crossing the Puncak area during the long weekend, which is double the maximum capacity of the two-way road in the area. This influx of vehicles contributed to the gridlock that left motorists stranded for hours.
The gridlock was dubbed a “horror” by Indonesian media, with residents reporting unprecedented traffic that lasted much longer than usual. Many motorists were forced to sit or sleep by the roadside, some equipped with sleeping bags. Yuli’s TikTok video, which garnered over two million views, highlighted the frustration and helplessness experienced by those caught in the traffic congestion during the holiday weekend.
The long weekend, which was a public holiday in Indonesia, resulted in a massive influx of holiday-goers to the Puncak area. This led to overcrowding on the roads and highways, causing the traffic congestion to spiral out of control. The situation was exacerbated by the limited capacity of the roads, with double the usual number of vehicles attempting to traverse the mountainous region.
Despite being accustomed to traffic jams in Puncak, residents were shocked by the severity and duration of the gridlock that occurred during the long weekend. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and frustrations faced by motorists in overcrowded areas during peak travel times. Authorities may need to consider additional measures to manage traffic flow and prevent similar incidents from happening in the future to ensure the safety and convenience of travelers in the region.
