Police investigations have revealed that a moment of microsleep by a driver was the critical trigger behind a recent head-on collision involving two TransJakarta buses on the Corridor 13 Ciledug-Tendean route. In response to this alarming incident, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has promptly urged TransJakarta bus operators to conduct a thorough evaluation.
The Governor specifically instructed operators to prioritize passenger safety by ensuring drivers are consistently alert and fit for duty. He emphasized that the buses involved in the collision were operated by PT Bianglala and PT Mayasari Bakti, two prominent TransJakarta partners.
According to police accounts, Yayan, the driver of the Mayasari Bakti bus, momentarily fell asleep at the wheel, an instance of microsleep, leading to the devastating impact with a passenger-laden Bianglala bus during the morning commute. Authorities confirmed that a total of 24 individuals sustained injuries in the collision. Pramono speculated that the driver’s drowsiness might have stemmed from working two consecutive days without adequate rest.
“He was driving the bus and had indeed been working for two days straight, likely feeling sleepy. Unable to maintain control, his bus ultimately swerved into the opposing lane,” Pramono stated in North Jakarta on Monday, February 23, highlighting the severe consequences of driver fatigue.
Further information from Pramono indicated that 23 people were injured, with two receiving treatment at Bhakti Asih Hospital and the remaining 21 at Sari Asih Hospital. He also provided assurances that TransJakarta would bear the entirety of the medical expenses for all victims, underscoring their commitment to public welfare.
Regarding the potential issue of drivers working excessive hours leading to exhaustion, Pramono acknowledged that the TransJakarta operator management system is generally well-structured. However, the politician attributed this particular TransJakarta bus accident primarily to human error. “Honestly, TransJakarta’s management is quite orderly. This incident is simply human error, not due to anything else. So, it was likely human error—perhaps insufficient sleep, possibly due to fasting, and so forth—which caused the bus to cross into oncoming traffic, resulting in the accident that injured 23 people,” Pramono concluded, urging greater awareness of driver well-being for enhanced passenger safety.
Summary
A recent head-on collision involving two TransJakarta buses on the Corridor 13 Ciledug-Tendean route was caused by a moment of microsleep by the driver of a Mayasari Bakti bus. Police investigations revealed that the driver, Yayan, momentarily fell asleep, causing his bus to swerve into the opposing lane. This incident resulted in 24 individuals sustaining injuries.
In response, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung urged TransJakarta bus operators, specifically PT Bianglala and PT Mayasari Bakti, to conduct a thorough evaluation, prioritizing passenger safety and driver fitness. Pramono speculated the driver’s drowsiness might have stemmed from working two consecutive days without adequate rest. TransJakarta has committed to bearing all medical expenses for the 23 injured victims, with the Governor attributing the accident primarily to human error rather than systemic issues.