In the bustling streets of Jakarta, a tragic incident unfolded at the Ciawi Toll Gate in Bogor on a fateful Tuesday evening. The Executive Director of the Lead-Free Gas Committee (KPBB), Ahmad Safrudin, shed light on the matter, emphasizing that the accident was not an isolated case but part of a larger recurring issue. According to Safrudin, concerns were raised about the prevalent practice of overloading large vehicles, known as Over Dimension Over Load (ODOL), which many companies continue to neglect when it comes to transportation safety.
The heart-wrenching accident involved a tanker truck carrying gallon-sized bottles of a popular multinational Packaged Drinking Water (AMDK) brand in Indonesia. It was reported that the truck lost its brakes, leading to a collision with the vehicles ahead, resulting in eight fatalities, 11 individuals with severe injuries, three cars engulfed in flames, and substantial damage to the toll gate infrastructure.
Early investigations by the police pointed to brake failure as the primary cause of the accident. However, Safrudin argued that the responsibility did not solely lie with the driver but was a consequence of corporate policies that overlooked safety and transportation security factors. He highlighted that companies often shirk accountability in accidents involving their transport fleets, scapegoating drivers who are merely following orders to transport excessive loads as demanded by the cargo owners.
### Safety Negligence and Legal Accountability
The KPBB’s 2021 investigation revealed alarming statistics, with over 60% of AMDK trucks on the Sukabumi-Bogor route found to be overloaded by up to 123.95%. The remaining 39.87% exceeded load limits by a staggering 134.57%. “This indicates widespread violations across all fleets,” Safrudin remarked.
Notably, these gallon-carrying AMDK trucks have a history of causing accidents in various regions. Fatal incidents in Subang in July 2017, a rollover on the uphill road of North Bali in July 2023, and multiple collisions in Central Java in February 2024 underscore the urgency for stricter law enforcement. KPBB has urged the government and law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations as per the 2009 Traffic and Road Transportation Law diligently. Additionally, they highlighted that ODOL practices could yield profits of hundreds of billions annually for producers, necessitating legal repercussions that extend beyond drivers and transport companies to hold cargo owners accountable.
In response to the incident, PT Danone Indonesia, the parent company of the Aqua brand, released a statement clarifying their stance. Arif Mujahidin, Corporate Communications Director at Danone Indonesia, affirmed that they had no direct association with the transporting company or the Aqua truck distributors. He stressed that the transporter and distributor were independent entities unrelated to PT Tirta Investama, the Aqua manufacturer.
The KPBB’s unwavering dedication to promoting safer transportation practices underscores the urgent need for accountability and compliance within the industry. The tragic events at the Ciawi Toll Gate serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence and the imperative for stringent measures to ensure public safety on the roads. As investigations continue and calls for legal action intensify, the real test lies in the collective commitment to prioritize safety over profits in the bottled water industry, setting a precedent for responsible and ethical practices that safeguard lives and uphold integrity.
