BandungBergerak.id – Lebaran is approaching, it is a moment for Indonesians to reunite with family after a month of fasting. The tradition of mudik, or returning to one's hometown, is a part of the Lebaran celebration, during which millions of people embark on long journeys using various modes of transportation, from private vehicles to public transport. However, the high volume of vehicles on the roads often leads to a surge in traffic accidents during the mudik period. During Ketupat Operation that was held in 2024, a total of 4.514 traffic accident cases were recorded in Indonesia. Accidents in highways in Indonesia recorded 220.657 cases, accidents generally occur because of driver fatigue, congested roads, and negligence in adhering to traffic regulations. Those are among the primary causes of these accidents. In addition, one of the main causes is microsleep.            

Microsleeps, brief episodes of sleep during wakefulness, are associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents. Microsleeps impair reaction times, vigilance, and peripheral vision, leading to speed variability and lane drift. Understanding the neurological mechanisms and creating detection techniques for microsleeps have been the main goals of the essay. Microsleep analysis during the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test enhanced the identification of people at risk for near-miss accidents and driving while sleepy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (Tondo et al., 2024). These findings underscore the importance of addressing microsleeps and fatigue in preventing traffic accidents.

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Wakeupads to Prevent Microsleep

As Indonesia's biggest toll road operator, Jasa Marga is dedicated to lowering the number of accidents brought on by microsleep, which is the little period of time when a person falls asleep while driving without recognizing it. Microsleep has emerged as a significant contributing factor to fatal incidents on toll roads due to rising traffic volume and congestion. Studies have shown a direct correlation between microsleep events and accident probability, with one study reporting a 35% accident rate under extreme fatigue conditions (Sirois et al., 2009). In order to increase the safety and comfort of users of toll roads, Jasa Marga is leveraging technology by putting in place an autonomous warning system and early detection system. This action is consistent with the company's goal of lowering the number of avoidable incidents while offering safer and more effective travel.

Jasa Marga came up with the creative solution of Wakeupads, an audio-based warning system that combines contemporary audio design with unique music to raise driver awareness. First, Jasa Marga identifies a critical risk point where an accident usually occurs. Then, they use that data to optimize spotify geofencing technology. When users that are currently using spotify enter the radius of the geofencing technology, wakeupads are automatically triggered. The wakeupads are designed by a certain frequency and beat per minute that is used to maintain beta waves so that the user’s brain stays focused and alerts. It is linked to the Travoy app, which guides vehicles to the closest rest place.

Ahead of the Eid homecoming flow, when the increase in vehicle volume raises the risk of accidents due to weariness, this technology, which has been installed on several Trans Java toll highways, is crucial. In order to preserve safety on toll roads, it is intended that Wakeupads will make drivers more aware and urge them to take breaks. The Spotify app is readily downloaded from Apple Store or Play Store that everyone can get easily.

Although the innovation of this technology is already being implemented in the Trans Java Highway, the number of accidents in Indonesia is still stagnant compared to the historical data from previous years. The innovation of this technology clearly faces many difficulties, one of them is the limitation that not all road users will be using spotify when they travel. According to data, the total users that are using spotify globally is around 500 million people, where most of them come from North America. Compared to the total people in Indonesia, 270 million people, that number shows a small proportion of people using spotify, which leads to the limitation stated above. This means that the government and Jasa Marga, as one the biggest toll road operators, still needs to do more action to lower the number of accidents in toll roads in Indonesia.

Learning from other Countries

Perhaps we can see an example of a city that has the lowest number of accidents on highways. Liechtenstein tops the list due to its amazing statistics on road fatalities. Based on the data from European Union report on road safety in 2022, there was just only road fatality in Liechtenstein in 2020 and zero in 2021. Liechtenstein's extensive traffic regulations address a number of topics related to road safety, including limits of speed and enforcement, wear the seat belts, high quality for road infrastructure, efficient traffic management, discipline for the drivers and strict licensing, advanced road safety technology and driving while intoxicated. To guarantee compliance, law enforcement officials strictly execute these laws. Beside that, Liechtenstein can be a country with the lowest accident rate because this country only has an area of about 160 km², and a population of about 39.000 people.

In order to keep roads safe and in good shape for driving, road infrastructure is also kept up to a high standard. Liechtenstein also prioritizes the safety of bicycles and pedestrians, implementing bike lanes and pedestrian crossings where feasible. The government often runs public awareness campaigns to teach citizens about road safety, including the risks of driving while intoxicated, the value of seat belts, and safe driving techniques.

Besides Liechtenstein, Indonesia can learn from Norway as one of the safest places to drive. According to the European Transport Safety Council’s Safety Performance Index, Norway averages 1.5 road fatalities per 100,000 people. The U.S. had a road death rate of 13.8 per 100,000 people in 2022. That’s almost 10 times the difference. Norway is known for its strict driving rules and enforcement. The speed limit is 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on rural roadways and 110 km/h on motorways. Doing 5 km/h over the limit in Norway can land you a $150 fine, while 10km/h over you’d be looking at just over 400 bucks Bad driving is taken seriously. Besides that, back in 1936, Norway was the first country on Earth to set a legal limit for drunk driving. Fines for bad driving in Norway are also means-tested based on both yearly income and/or total personal assets. A good example of this happened in 2009 when a businessman whose wealth was estimated at $30 million was fined $109,000 for being “well over the limit.”

Conclusion

Despite the innovative solutions offered by Wakeupads innovation, Liechtenstein, and Norway, we still face certain challenges, such as the limitation that not all road users utilize Spotify while driving. However, this challenge presents an opportunity to further develop more advanced microsleep detection technologies, such as the use of cameras and sensors to monitor signs of driver fatigue, potentially improving the effectiveness of accident prevention efforts. Furthermore, there is potential for collaboration with radio stations to extend the reach of Wakeupads to a broader range of drivers. Besides that, Indonesia can adopt the best practice of comparable programs in nations with low accident rates, like Liechtenstein and Norway, that highlights a combination of stringent laws, first-rate infrastructure, and safety awareness campaigns to significantly improve travel safety.