Road traffic facilities, traffic accidents, and poverty: Lesson learned from Indonesia

The development of road traffic facilities is progressing rapidly in both developed and developing countries. However, the number of deaths caused by road traffic accidents is still increasing and the families of the accident victims are trapped in poverty. This study by taking Indonesia as a case aimed: (1) to investigate the perceptions of road users in viewing road traffic facilities on traffic accidents, means of reducing the fatality of traffic accident victims, types of fatality of road traffic accident victims, and type of transportation mode causing traffic accidents and fatalities of accidents victims, (2) to determine factors affecting the frequency of traffic accidents and the fatality of accident victims, and (3) to examine the correlation between traffic accident victims and poverty. The data source was obtained by distributing questionnaires to 600 sample respondents in ten provinces in Indonesia, categorized as having high death rates in road traffic accident areas. These data were then analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative results show that most respondents viewed road traffic facilities as useful in reducing the frequency of traffic accidents and the fatality of traffic accident victims. The motorcycle was viewed as the type of transportation with great potential for road traffic accidents. However, the type of fatality in traffic accidents tends to be minor injuries. The quantitative results indicated that factors that significantly affect the chances of never having traffic accidents are the presence of traffic control officers, location, age, and the use of private vehicles. The traffic facilities (excluding ambulances and helmets) are insignificant in reducing traffic accidents. The significant factors affecting the fatality rate were the availability of accident prevention facilities, location, the use of private vehicles, and weather conditions. Traffic accidents were found to correlate with poverty incidence as they incur treatment costs, lost productivity, and the loss of a breadwinner in the family. These findings complement and sharpen previous empirical findings and suggest practical contributions to the government and traffic authorities to improve road traffic facilities and reduce traffic accidents, the fatality of traffic accident victims, and poverty.