The ATO road safety profiles offer insights into the road safety in 28 Asia-Pacific countries by utilizing road safety related data from various sources and policy information extracted from a range of documents.

The profiles were created by the Asian Transport Observatory —in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Road Safety Observatory (APRSO), and the International Road Federation (IRF)— as an input to global discussions on road safety, in time for the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakech, Morocco.

Road safety in Indonesia remains a significant public health challenge. In 2021, it was estimated about 31 thousand fatalities in Indonesia due to road crashes (WHO), accounting for 2.0% of all deaths in the country. While Indonesia has made some progress, the current trajectory is insufficient to meet ambitious 2030 fatality reduction targets. This narrative will explore the complexities of road safety in Indonesia, examining data discrepancies, economic costs, infrastructure challenges, and the policy landscape.

A notable challenge in understanding the full scope of the problem is the discrepancy in reported data. The numbers reported by country statistics and the Global Burden of Disease for 2021 and 2023 vary significantly, ranging from approximately 28 thousand to 43 thousand fatalities. This inconsistency highlights the need for improved data collection and reporting mechanisms to assess the road safety situation accurately.

Despite data discrepancies, available information provides valuable insights. The share of female fatalities has slightly decreased, while the combined share of minors (<14 years old) and seniors (>65 years old) in deaths has seen a marginal increase. Alarmingly, the share of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities is not reported for 2021 and requires further investigation.

The human cost of road crashes is immense, and the economic burden is substantial. Fatalities and serious injuries from road crashes in Indonesia cost an estimated 38 billion USD in 2021, roughly 3% of the country's GDP. This is comparable to Indonesia's healthcare expenditure of 3.7% of GDP in the same year.

Road crashes also contribute significantly to the implicit costs of fossil fuel subsidies in transport, accounting for approximately 61% of the total. Investing in road safety is not just a moral imperative; it's also economically sound. IRAP estimates that an annual investment of 2 billion USD, or about 0.1% of Indonesia's GDP, could save around 10,000 lives yearly.

Infrastructure plays a crucial role in road safety. IRAP ratings reveal that only 7% and 14% of Indonesia's road infrastructure have a 3-star or better rating for pedestrians and bicyclists, respectively, compared to 14% and 22% for the Asia-Pacific region. The situation is better for vehicle occupants, with at least 55% of roads having a 3-star or better rating. However, for motorcyclists, who make up the vast majority of road users, only about 32% of road infrastructure meets this standard. Indonesia also experiences a high rate of road fatalities per kilometer of road, with approximately 25 fatalities per thousand kilometers.

Indonesia has experienced rapid motorization, with 566 vehicles per thousand population by 2023. Two-wheelers dominate the vehicle fleet, comprising 84% of all vehicles, followed by light-duty vehicles (12%), trucks (4%). This high reliance on motorcycles, coupled with inadequate infrastructure for them, contributes significantly to the road safety challenge.

Progress has been slow while this is lower than the Asia-Pacific average of 15.2 and the South East Asia average of 14.4. WHO estimates a decrease in fatalities per 100,000 population from 13.2 in 2010 to 11.3 in 2021, a 14% reduction. This compares unfavorably to the Asia-Pacific region's 19% improvement and South East Asia's 35% decrease during the same period.

Indonesia has about 22 fatalities per 100,000 registered vehicles.

• Urgent action needed to reduce road fatalities The Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 aims to cut road fatalities in half by 2030. An annual reduction of at least 7.4% is necessary to achieve this.
• Asia-Pacific region falling behind Despite reaching a peak in road crash fatalities, the Asia-Pacific region is not on track to meet the 2030 goal. The average annual reduction in deaths between 2016 and 2021 was only 0.6%, far below the required rate.
• Varying progress across Asia Using the 2016-2021 road crash fatality growth rate as a basis for estimates until 2030:
  • Only 3 Asian countries are projected to achieve the 50% reduction target by 2030.
  • 18 Asian countries are expected to reduce fatalities by at least 25%.
  • Worryingly, 7 Asian countries will continue to increase road fatalities, moving further away from the target.
• In Indonesia, road crash fatalities decreased by approximately -0.7% per year between 2016 and 2021. However, this is not enough to reach the 2030 target to halve the fatalities by 2030

Indonesia has a National Road Safety Plan 2021-2040, published in 2021. The country also has specific road safety targets, including reducing the road accident fatality ratio per 10,000 vehicles. Furthermore, various other policy documents, such as the National Railways Master Plan and the National Medium Term Development Plan, have indirect benefits for road safety. Despite these policy initiatives, effective implementation and enforcement are crucial for achieving tangible improvements in road safety outcomes.

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