JAKARTA - A member of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) is urging the government to ban motorcycles from crossing provincial boundaries during this year's Lebaran holiday, with Eid al-Fitr expected to fall on March 20-21.

Syaiful Huda, deputy chairman of the House's Commission V, raised the proposal at a working session with Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi on February 18, citing data showing motorcycles are involved “in nearly 50 percent of all accidents” during the annual mudik homecoming period. 

He asked the ministry to study whether such a restriction could be enforced before the travel season begins.

The 2026 mudik is projected to draw 143.9 million travelers according to a Transportation Ministry survey conducted on February 12, down 1.7 percent from last year's projection of 146 million. 

Minister Dudy cautioned, however, that actual turnout typically exceeds forecasts. The 2025 projection of 146 million was surpassed when 154 million people actually traveled, based on mobile positioning data.

Motorcycles remain a significant mode of transport, particularly for lower-income workers for whom a motorbike is often the most affordable way to make the journey home from cities like Jakarta and Surabaya.

Safety improvements during the 2025 season show what is possible with coordinated effort. According to Korlantas Polri data reported by the Transportation Ministry, there were 4,640 road accidents during the 2025 mudik period, a drop of 34 percent from 2024's 7,064 cases, with fatalities falling 56 percent to 548 deaths. 

Those gains were credited to traffic engineering measures, flexible working arrangements, and a free mudik bus program.

Huda said any ban would have to come with expanded alternatives so lower-income travelers are not left without a way home. 

The government has already prepared 401 free buses with a capacity of 15,834 passengers to 34 cities across Java and Sumatra, alongside 28,182 discounted train seats and 50,000 economy-class sea passenger slots. Freight vehicle restrictions are separately scheduled from March 13 to 29 on toll roads and arterial routes to ease congestion. 

No formal motorcycle restriction policy has been announced.