Home-Bound Travelers Urged to Prioritize Children Safety

Jakarta - The Task Force for Children Protection (Satgas PA) has urged home-bound travelers to prioritize safety, security and comfort of children during their journeys to celebrate Idul Fitri Muslim holiday in their home-towns. "The safety and comfort of children must be given priority, particularly by motorcyclists," the task force's coordinator, M Ihsan, said here Tuesday. The task force, comprising representatives of the social affairs ministry and a number of NGOs concerning children's affairs, has launched a campaign on child-friendly home-bound traveling. According to 2011 data from the National Police Traffic Management Centre, during the period of pre-and-post Idul Fitri 2011, there were 2,770 accidents that killed 449 people, seriously injured 760, and slightly injured 1,914 others. During the same period, there were 3,418 accidents involving motorcycles, or an increase of 40 percent from 2,446 cases in 2010. "We call on motorcyclists not to carry more than one child and to make stops for resting regularly, especially when they are sleepy and tired. Don't force yourselves," Ihsan said. The task force also asked the participation of the public along the home-bound traveling routes to set up command posts that are friendly to children by providing adequate beverages, rest areas, free-medical check-ups, and entertainments for children. Other home-bound travelers using public transportation, such as buses, trains, airplanes and ships or ferries, are also urged to pay attention to and protect their children from undesirable circumstances. (*)