Traffic accidents decline during 2026 Eid homecoming: Minister

hartono · Mar 24, 2026

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin (middle) speaks during the national one-way traffic implementation at Kalikangkung Toll Gate (GT) in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday (March 24, 2026). (ANTARA/Nadia Putri Rahmani)

Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s health minister welcomed a decline in traffic accidents during the 2026 Eid al-Fitr homecoming, urging travelers to remain vigilant as return flows intensify.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said accident cases had fallen significantly compared with previous years, crediting coordinated efforts by authorities.

“Thank God, and thanks to the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture and the National Police chief, accident incidents have dropped significantly this year,” he said at Kalikangkung Toll Gate on Tuesday.

Despite the improvement, he reminded motorists to rest regularly during long-distance journeys, recommending breaks every three hours to reduce fatigue-related risks.

“Drowsiness and exhaustion are major causes of accidents and pose serious health and safety risks,” he said.

He added that many incidents involve motorcycle riders, indicating that accidents occur not only on toll roads but also on arterial routes.

To address this, he praised state railway company KAI for providing train services that transport motorcycles along with their riders, helping reduce road congestion and fatigue-related accidents.

“One carriage can carry up to 200 motorcycles, lowering the risk for riders traveling long distances,” he said.

Earlier, National Police Traffic Corps chief Inspector General Agus Suryonugroho reported that as of the ninth day of Operation Ketupat 2026, or March 21, fatalities had dropped by 27 percent, while total accidents declined by around 3.5 percent compared with the same period in 2025.

On Tuesday, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi and Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin launched a one-way traffic scheme for the return flow.

The system applies from KM 414 at Kalikangkung Toll Gate in Semarang to KM 70 at Cikampek Utama Toll Gate.

Authorities said additional traffic management measures would be implemented as needed to prevent congestion toward Jakarta, as millions of travelers continue their journeys after the holiday period.