Ahead of the big Balinese holiday (from November 18 to 20 the island celebrates Galungan), the local police launched Operation “Zebra.” There are more inspectors at busy intersections, with nearly 1,700 people involved in the raids. They will be even more attentive to those who break the rules, including foreigners.
The Bali Traffic Police (Ditlantas Polda Bali) asked tourists with no experience not to drive motorbikes on the island.
“Foreign nationals who are inexperienced or do not handle vehicles well, especially two-wheelers, are strongly advised not to drive motorcycles on their own,” stated Police Commissioner Turmudi. He explained that this warning is crucial for protecting the safety of foreign nationals themselves and local residents using the roads.
Moreover, this is done to prevent losses for companies providing motorcycle rental services.
"If they are renting a bike to a novice, let them provide a driver to protect foreigners and our citizens who own rental points. This way, we can avoid further problems," added Turmudi.
Large bike rental companies on the island, by the way, should have mandatory introductory instruction or even short training courses on a special site.
At BaliMotion, for instance, customers are helped free of charge to master the technique they rent. A specialist will show how the bike's controls work, explain their purpose, and train users on starting the scooter. Moreover, there are four basic driving exercises on the site. The briefing lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
At BaliMotion, for instance, customers are helped free of charge to master the technique they rent. A specialist will show how the bike's controls work, explain their purpose, and train users on starting the scooter. Moreover, there are four basic driving exercises on the site. The briefing lasts 1.5 to 2 hours.
Meanwhile, traffic police officers carried out several mass checks in Canggu. They stopped those driving without a helmet in unexpected places. The raid took place in the evening, and no fines were issued; only verbal warnings were given.
In 2024, the Bali Police recorded 142 road traffic incidents involving foreign nationals. This figure increased by 35% compared to 2023.
The numbers are quite significant: 21 foreign nationals died, three suffered serious injuries, 171 minor injuries, and material damage amounted to 211 million Indonesian rupiahs (approximately 13,000 USD).
Turmudi did not specify the number of road incidents involving foreign nationals in Bali for 2025. However, he noted a decrease in the number of accidents involving tourists from abroad.
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