Lights on for Safety

(1/28/2007)

In a program dubbed "Safety Riding," Bali police are requesting that motorcycles traveling the Island's streets and highways turn on their headlights, even when operating during daylight hours.

In an effort to socialize the use of headlights, large convoys comprised of hundred of motorcycles with their lights ablaze circled areas in Denpasar, Buleleng, Jembrana, Karangasem and Tabanan. Each of the convoys, intended to popularize the use of headlights, were dispatched by local precinct police chiefs. Comprised of members of local motorcycle clubs and motorcycles used for public transport (ojek), each group was addressed by the local police who explained the goals of the Safety Riding Campaign.

Modeled after a similar program launched recently in Jakarta and Surabaya, the Safety Riding Campaign is intended to increase the visibility of motorcycles on local roads while raising the level of safety consciousness among those driving on Bali's roads. Police are using the campaign to drive home four distinct messages to motorcyclists, namely: to always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle; to always have a rear-view mirror installed on every bike; for motorcycles to always drive in the left lane; and to use the motorcycles headlight at all times of the day and night.