LABUHANBATU SELATAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Road safety depends on the awareness and discipline of every road user. To strengthen public awareness, officers from the Traffic Unit (Sat Lantas) of the Labuhanbatu Selatan Police visited residents of Kampung Bedagai, Kotapinang District, on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Through a
road safety awareness and public education initiative, the police encouraged residents to make safety a priority on every journey. The initiative also formed part of the
2026 Patuh Toba Operation, which runs from 26 October to 8 November 2026.
The initiative demonstrates that maintaining order on the roads requires more than enforcement alone. Police also need the involvement of the community to develop a culture of safe, disciplined and responsible driving.
Direct Public Education to Prevent Road Accidents
During the activity, Traffic Unit officers provided residents with direct advice on the importance of complying with traffic regulations. They reminded the public not to drive recklessly, to ensure their vehicle documents were complete and to use the required safety equipment.
Motorcyclists were specifically reminded to wear helmets meeting Indonesian National Standards (SNI) at all times. They were also advised to carry their driving licences (SIM) and vehicle registration certificates (STNK) whenever riding.
Compliance with traffic signs and road markings was another key subject of the awareness campaign. Officers encouraged residents to understand that every traffic regulation serves a purpose: protecting road users from the risk of accidents.
Simple habits such as wearing helmets, carrying the correct documents, maintaining safe speeds and respecting the rights of other road users can make a significant contribution to everyone's safety.
Through direct communication, police officers sought to build an understanding that obeying traffic regulations should not simply be an obligation when officers are conducting checks. Instead, it should become part of people's everyday driving habits.
ROAD SAFETY MUST COME FIRST: Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Traffic Unit Chief AKP Yustina encourages residents to obey traffic regulations, wear SNI-standard helmets and ensure their vehicle documents are complete. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Patuh Toba Operation Goes Beyond Enforcement
Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Chief AKBP Rosef Efendi, S.I.K., M.H., CPHR., through Traffic Unit Chief AKP Yustina, S.H., M.H., emphasised that the
2026 Patuh Toba Operation was not solely focused on taking enforcement action against traffic violations. The operation also prioritises public education to raise awareness of the importance of road safety.
She explained that compliance with traffic regulations should not be driven merely by fear of penalties or police action. Every road user needs to understand that discipline on the road is a responsibility towards their own safety, their families and other road users.
"We encourage everyone to make safety an essential part of driving.
"Ensure your vehicle documents are complete, wear an SNI-standard helmet, obey traffic signs and avoid dangerous driving behaviour that could put yourself or others at risk," AKP Yustina said.
Her message underlines the importance of changing public attitudes towards road safety. Compliance should not be demonstrated only while police operations are under way, but should become an enduring commitment throughout every journey.
The presence of officers among local residents also represents an approach to strengthening relations between the police and the community. Through accessible and constructive communication, residents can gain a better understanding of traffic regulations and the risks associated with neglecting road safety.
POLICE RAISE AWARENESS OF TRAFFIC DISCIPLINE: Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Traffic Unit officers Aiptu Alpian and Aipda Aidil Syah Putra deliver road safety guidance to residents through a friendly, community-focused approach. (PHOTO: Jhon Fitra Sagala)
Building a Road Safety Culture Within Communities
The public education session in Kampung Bedagai was conducted by Aiptu Alpian and Aipda Aidil Syah Putra, S.H., who serves as Head of the Traffic Safety Sub-Unit (Kanit Kamsel) of the Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Traffic Unit.
Both officers delivered their guidance through a friendly, community-focused approach and direct communication, making the safety messages easier for residents to understand. This approach also encouraged the public to take an active role in creating a safer and more orderly traffic environment.
Police believe that
road safety awareness needs to develop within families and local communities. Parents, for example, can set a positive example by always wearing helmets, obeying traffic signs and using vehicles responsibly.
Likewise, every driver and motorcyclist should respect the safety of others by maintaining a safe distance, controlling their speed and avoiding actions that could endanger fellow road users.
The risk of road accidents affects everyone, regardless of age or background. For this reason, enforcement must go hand in hand with education and public participation to ensure that changes in driving behaviour are sustained over time.
The Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Traffic Unit hopes that its road safety education activities will increase public awareness and help improve traffic security, safety, order and smooth traffic flow (Kamseltibcarlantas) throughout its jurisdiction.
Through the
2026 Patuh Toba Operation, residents are also encouraged to become road safety advocates, not merely during the operation but on every journey.
Ultimately, success on the road is not simply measured by how quickly someone reaches their destination, but by how much care they show in ensuring that every road user can return home safely. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala