"Backdoor" Driver's License Scheme: Citizens' Desire for Speed, Offers from Corrupt Officials, and Exam Failures

Obtaining a Driver's License (SIM), including SIM A, B, C, D, and international licenses, involves several stages. These stages include administrative processes, health checks, and practical driving tests.

This process is time-consuming for many. In practice, there are "backdoor" methods to expedite the process, involving bribery (pungli) or using brokers.

"What needs to be regulated is primarily the SIM issuance offices outside the main offices, because as soon as you arrive, there are already brokers," said Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, responding to the issue of SIM issuance, as quoted from the DPR website on Wednesday (2/11/2022).

Findings from a Jakpat (Jajak Pendapat) survey indicate that some people have obtained SIMs through shortcuts. Of 339 respondents, 43.2% admitted to obtaining their SIMs through such channels without taking the test.

Specifically, 59.3% of these respondents cited faster processing as the reason. 22.1% said they received offers from individuals. However, Jakpat did not specify whether these individuals were from within the police force or external to it.

8% said they were too lazy to take the test, and only 6.5% chose this route because they failed the practical test.

(See also: Police Revenue from SIM Issuance Reaches Rp1 Trillion)

However, among the 553 respondents who did not yet possess a SIM, 63.5% stated they would still take the test. 36.5% opted for shortcuts.

This survey was conducted on November 15, 2022, via the Jakpat application. The questionnaire was single-answer.

Tips for Passing the Test

To pass the SIM test, applicants must understand the obstacles and basic techniques. These obstacles include the zig-zag, figure-eight, evasive reaction test, and the U-turn.

According to Trenoto, part of Katadata, there are tricks to successfully navigate these obstacles. Therefore, drivers should familiarize themselves with the motorcycle they will be using. Tips for passing the practical SIM test can be found here.

(See also: Number of Traffic Tickets Reaches 1.77 Million by October 2021)