The Surakarta City Government and the Central Java Provincial Government reinforced their commitment to improving road safety in Surakarta. This effort requires the involvement of youth as strategic partners in the policymaking that affects them.

The festival was organized through a collaboration between Transportologi and the Surakarta City Government, with support from the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and is part of a project coordinated by AIP Foundation and funded by Fondation Botnar and the FIA Foundation.

This was highlighted during the opening of the AI&ME Solo Road Safety Festival—themed “Nothing About Youth Without Youth”—held at the Surakarta Sports-Focused Junior High School (SMP Khusus Olahraga Surakarta) on Saturday, October 10, 2026.

In remarks delivered on his behalf by the Head of the Surakarta City Transportation Agency, Taufiq Muhammad, the Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Achmad Ardianto, stated that the theme “Nothing About Youth Without Youth” conveys a vital message: any policy concerning youth must incorporate their voices, experiences, and ideas. Youth are not merely passive recipients of policy; they are strategic partners in driving change.

“The voices of youth must be heard, their ideas must be acted upon, and their participation must be an integral part of the development of Surakarta,” said Respati.

iRAP Project Coordinator Shanna Lucchesi noted that in December of last year, iRAP in collaboration with Transportologi launched the “AI&Me: Empowering Youth for Livable Cities” program in Surakarta. The concept of this program is simple yet powerful: nothing about youth without youth. The program combines technology with the perspectives of young people to gather the evidence needed to make Surakarta an even more sustainable and livable city, ensuring that streets around schools are safe for every child.

“That is why today’s Road Safety Festival is so important. It takes the conversation on road safety out of the meeting room and into the community. It provides opportunities for students from our participating schools, as well as youth from across Surakarta, to learn, share, and become champions for safer roads—for their friends, their families, and their city,” said Shanna.

Nanang Dwi Saputro, Head of the Governance and Human Development Division at the Central Java Provincial Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), stated that the number of traffic crashes in Central Java continues to rise each year. As of 2025, at least one person dies in a traffic crash in Central Java every two hours. The victims are predominantly from the productive age group, specifically those between 22 and 39 years old.

“This can also be viewed from an economic perspective. Since men in this productive age range often serve as the primary breadwinners, such incidents could lead to a loss of household income—ultimately contributing to poverty,” Nanang explained.

Nanang noted that efforts to improve road safety include repairing damaged roads, addressing hazards at dangerous locations, providing public transportation, installing traffic signs and road markings, and increasing street lighting.

Nanang also urged parents to set an example by fostering a culture of safe driving. He suggested that parents take on the responsibility of transporting their children to and from school, which would help reduce the number of students using motorcycles.

Sukma Larastiti, Director of Transportologi, stated that the one-day festival was attended by 1,026 people. The event was graced by the Mayor of Surakarta, Respati Achmad Ardianto; the Deputy Mayor of Surakarta, Astrid Widayani; representatives from the Central Java Provincial Development Planning Agency; and various heads of government agencies and institutions.

The festival was organized through a collaboration between Transportologi and the Surakarta City Government, with support from the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and is part of a project coordinated by AIP Foundation and funded by Fondation Botnar and the FIA Foundation.

The festival featured a variety of activities, including exhibitions, workshops, talk shows, and outdoor events. Youth had the opportunity to engage with the “Youth Engagement Application”, participate in safe-riding sessions led by the Yamaha Riding Academy, and attend a “Youth Engagement for Champions” workshop.

“We hope this festival can serve as a space for learning, taking action, and collaboration. Let us move forward together to create safer journey to schools, a more comfortable environment, and a more livable city of Surakarta,” said Sukma.

Article, video and image credits: Transportologi