Jakarta drivers are not exactly known for their discipline or patience, but that’s at least in part partially because they are so rarely punished for their poor driving etiquette. For example, you almost always see motorcyclists trying to jostle their way to the front of the pack while waiting at red lights, leading to crosswalks constantly being covered in vehicles that have illegally crossed the line.
Until recently, there was little law enforcement could do to police this kind of small but frustrating traffic violation, leaving it up to Youtubers to scold and make fun of those who can’t stay within the lines:
But now the Jakarta Police have their own tool for publicly humiliating intersection offenders. This video from the official Jakarta Smart City Facebook page shows how traffic officers monitoring the capital’s many CCTV feeds can now directly address drivers via speakers located at some intersections to tell them when they’re past the legal limit.
And, best of all, they can tell drivers to back up, as some are shown sheepishly doing in the video.
The post doesn’t mention which intersections have the real-time CCTV monitoring and speaker setup, but however many it is, it’s not enough. Causing a major change in how drivers behave in Jakarta will take a long time, but the specter of public shaming might be an even more effective deterrent than the vague threat of a ticket for many motorcyclists.
