Chandra Wijayanto
BEKASI — A tragic incident involving a taxi driver on his very first day of work ended in a fatal accident with a train at a level crossing in Bekasi on Saturday, April 26, 2026. The driver, who had just started his job on April 25, 2026, after only a one-day brief training, is now in the spotlight over alleged negligence and the taxi company's operational standards.
The unfortunate accident happened around 2:30 PM WIB when a white taxi driven by Mr. Budi Santoso (28) tried to cross the closed railway gate. At the same time, the Pangrango Train running from Bogor to Sukabumi passed at high speed, hitting the back of the vehicle and dragging it for several meters.
Budi Santoso, who is listed as a new employee at an online taxi service provider, suffered serious injuries and was immediately taken to the Bekasi City Regional General Hospital (RSUD). Two taxi passengers were also reported to have sustained serious injuries and are receiving intensive medical care.
The Head of Traffic Unit of Bekasi City Metro Police, Commissioner Hendrawan, revealed that the initial investigation focuses on driver negligence. “Initial indications show that the driver didn’t pay attention to the warning signals and the crossing gate that had already closed,” said Commissioner Hendrawan when met at the scene.
Furthermore, Commissioner Hendrawan added, “Information from the taxi company indicates that the driver only completed a one-day training and started working on April 25. This will certainly be one of the focuses of our investigation, regarding competency standards and operational feasibility.”
The Bekasi City Transportation Department expressed deep concern over this incident. The Head of the Transportation Department, Ir. Bambang Sulistyo, highlighted the importance of re-evaluating the training curriculum for public transport drivers, especially for those operating in areas with high traffic intensity and many level crossings.
"The minimum training standards for taxi drivers, especially those who are new, need to be reviewed. Passenger safety and the safety of other road users is the top priority,” emphasized Ir. Bambang. He added that his team would soon summon the management of the taxi companies involved for information and clarification.
Transportation Safety Observer from the University of Indonesia, Dr. Rina Suryani, Ph.D., stressed that a one-day training is far from enough to ensure that a driver has the necessary competence and alertness on the roads. “Driving a taxi requires more than just basic skills. They need to understand traffic ethics, emergency procedures, and the psychology of driving under pressure,” explained Dr. Rina.
This incident also triggered a strong reaction from the public and netizens who demanded that the government and taxi service providers be more serious about ensuring the quality and safety of their drivers. Many comments on social media lamented the lack of supervision over the recruitment and training processes.
The management of the taxi company involved, through its spokesperson, apologized for the incident and promised to fully support the investigation process. They also expressed their commitment to reviewing all operational procedures, including driver training programs, to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
This case has widely reopened the debate about the regulation of online and conventional transportation, especially regarding driver competency standards. Hopefully, the tragic incident in Bekasi will serve as a momentum for everyone to improve supervision and enforcement of rules to create a safe and responsible transportation ecosystem.
