Analysts Respond to Recurring Electric Taxi Accident

KatadataOTO – An accident involving a Vietnamese electric taxi, Green SM, has occurred again in Indonesia. This time, it involved one taxi unit and a train at the Sawah Besar crossing, Central Jakarta.

This is not the first time; previously, a Green SM unit was also involved in an accident in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. The car driven by the driver hit the back of a Transjakarta bus while it was stopped.

Then in late February 2025, a Green SM electric taxi, which at the time was still named Xanh SM, was known to have hit a street vendor in the Kembangan area, West Jakarta.

There are several assumptions regarding the cause of the accidents. For example, the drivers may not be familiar with the operation of electric taxis.

Photo: Instagram infokrw

Considering that many Green SM drivers previously worked as conventional taxi drivers, the majority of their fleet consisted of gasoline cars with manual transmissions.

However, a driving safety practitioner believes that all taxi drivers, including those from Green SM, should already have a Driver's License (SIM) and meet the requirements to operate a four-wheeled vehicle.

Indeed, it cannot be denied that there are differences in driving conventional and electric cars.

“But as long as they understand and follow the procedures, it should be safe. In my opinion, accidents commonly happen here due to the driver's behavior and bad habits,” said Sony Susmana, an instructor at Safety Defensive Consultant Indonesia (SDCI), to KatadataOTO on Friday (02/01).

He further explained that the phenomenon of breaking through railway gates, as recently done by the Green SM electric taxi driver, occurs because of underestimating the potential danger.

“I am sure many drivers know the dangers at a railway crossing. But that thought is ignored when bad behavior and habits emerge,” said Sony.

Photo: KatadataOTO

Therefore, Sony emphasized the importance of adequate training for taxi drivers. Not just on vehicle operation but also on driving safety.

So, it is hoped that bad habits such as breaking through railway gates, stopping in improper places, and driving above the maximum speed limit can be avoided.

“So, what needs to be trained are the soft skills,” said Sony.