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Wear signs, Indonesia tells disabled

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-05-27 09:00

JAKARTA: Disabled pedestrians in Indonesia are required to wear signs identifying them as handicapped under new traffic regulations passed unanimously by parliament Tuesday.

Amendments to the Traffic and Transport Law state "handicapped pedestrians must wear special and clear signs which can be easily recognized by other road users".

The lawmaker in charge of the committee, which drafted the amendments, Ahmad Muqowam of the United Development Party, said they were designed to protect disabled people from road accidents.

"This is a humanistic act. It's for their safety on the streets," he said.

Asked what the signs should read or where people should wear them, he said this was up to the government to decide at a later date.

"All technical things will be explained later in government regulations," he said. "They won't be penalized if they flout the rule."

Transport experts said the law was preposterous and the government should focus on providing facilities such as level footpaths and wheelchair ramps rather than requiring people to wear signs. "It is strange when handicapped people are asked to carry extra burdens and obligations," Institute of Transportation Studies chairman Darmaningtyas said.

AFP