Indonesia’s ballooning number of road accidents is taking a toll on the country, with the lack of traffic law enforcement being blamed as the main culprit.

The Jakarta Globe said 1,547 deaths out of 9,884 road accidents were reported this year, with more than 90% of accidents involving motorbikes, while the remaining were cars and buses. Asian Development Bank reported that some 48,000 people were killed in road accidents in Indonesia in 2010.

Lawmakers in Indonesia claimed that drivers in Indonesia, especially those in public transportation services, had no training before they obtained their licences, making them prone to accidents in the country.

They also said Indonesian transport authorities also did not perform sufficient checks on bus operators, as many of them did not adhere to regulations before being allowed to operate on the road. It is common to find public buses cramped with people, while being driven beyond speed limits, resulting in accidents.

“The number of deaths due to traffic accidents would soar to 65,000 in 2020, if the problem were not dealt seriously,” Abdul Hakim, the secretary of the Prosperous Justice Party faction in the House of Representatives, was quoted as saying to local reporters.

In one week alone, Indonesia saw three deadly road accidents caused by buses in west Java, leaving 28 dead. The rampant accidents have caused a public outcry on the ban of ill-trained bus drivers from the road.

A commentary that appeared on the English daily said bus drivers with little training and knowledge of road regulations were given licenses, putting passengers at risk.

“This is the heart of the problem and it must be tackled urgently. If public transport companies are found to be operating buses and vehicles that are not roadworthy, they should be severely punished. If bus drivers cause serious accidents because of negligence and poor road knowledge, criminal proceedings must be brought against them,” it said.

A similar call on stricter law enforcement on motorcyclists is also called. Indonesia has among the highest number of motorbikes in Southeast Asia, and is seen as a hub for strong vehicle sales by various car and motorbike manufacturers, due to its populous nation and growing middle class. Analysts estimate that the ratio of motorbikes in this country to cars is 10 to one.

However, locals say motorbike riders are also being blamed for causing road accidents and posing danger to pedestrians, as these riders drive recklessly on pavements meant for walking.