Jakarta’s 3-in-1 System to Be Phased Out By March: Joko

Jakarta Globe

Jakarta’s 3 -in-1 traffic rules will be phased out as the new odd-even license plate system is introduced, Governor Joko Widodo said on Monday.

The existing 3-in-1 plan has been criticized as failing to seriously address the capital’s notorious traffic jams. It also gave rise to a market for 3-in-1 “jockeys” who ride in motorists’ cars to circumvent the restrictions. 

Joko’s odd-even license plate scheme will be rolled out by March, he said. The older 3-in-1 plan will be phased out by then.

“It won’t [overlap],” Joko told Detik.com on Monday. “If the odd-even plate number system is put into effect, the 3-in-1 system should be terminated.”

Jakarta administration plans to restrict traffic to designated license plates between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays along select routes. The local government has not decided how many streets will be affected by the new system.

“Whether it is implemented in two areas as previously planned or additional areas has not been decided,” Joko said.

The plan is not without its critics. The Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) accused Joko’s office of pushing the new rules through without first making needed improvements to the capital’s public transportation system.

“Preparations are needed regarding the capacity of public transportation and whether or not it is sufficient, because there are going to be about three million passengers that need to be carried. Is [the number of public transportation vehicles] enough? It’s best to fix it and to make good preparations,” MTI chairman Danang Parikesit recently said.