The shoulder of city toll roads may only be used at specific hours.

KatadataOTO – Due to severe congestion during rush hour, the Metro Jaya Regional Police Traffic Directorate is allowing drivers to use the shoulder of the inner-city toll road, starting from Semanggi (Km 7) to the Cawang Interchange.

It was explained that the policy is effective from Monday, February 24 to Friday, February 28, 2025, specifically from 18:00-20:00 WIB.

“Providing discretion for drivers to use the shoulder of the inner-city toll road from Semanggi to the Cawang Interchange,” said Police Commissioner Latif Usman, Director of Traffic for the Metro Jaya Regional Police, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday (25/2).

However, drivers still need to prioritize emergency vehicles that will pass on the toll road shoulder, such as ambulances, fire trucks, officer patrols, and VVIP convoys.

Photo : Trenoto

He emphasized that the regulation is intended to smooth traffic flow. Drivers are advised to maintain a safe distance and prioritize safety when using the shoulder.

“Officers have installed special signs at the location to inform the public about this policy,” he said.

For your information, Jakarta was named one of the most congested cities according to the 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard, released by the traffic data analysis company Inrix.

In that year, Jakarta was ranked 10th, one level higher than Miami, Florida. Jakarta was just below Cape Town, South Africa.

As a result of the congestion, drivers in Jakarta ultimately lost 65 hours of their time. This figure is up 33 percent compared to the 2022 analysis.

“As the number of vehicles increases, drivers and passengers lose time and fuel in unproductive ways,” read a statement from Inrix, quoted some time ago.

Photo : Trenoto

When calculated, the top speed due to congestion in the Jakarta area in 2023 was only 21 miles per hour or about 33.7 km per hour.

Besides wasting time, the congestion also has many other impacts, such as a decline in quality of life and delivery delays.

Speaking of the most congested cities in the world, the first rank is held by New York, United States. It is followed by Mexico City, London, Paris, and Chicago in the top five.