Riding a bus is one of Indonesia’s most reliable modes of long-distance transportation for long-distance travel.
Many people choose buses as their means of transportation across regions, provinces, and even islands. Apart from being more affordable than other long-distance transportation, some buses in Indonesia also provide comfort.
Even buses of certain types present luxury with adequate facilities, especially now that bus operators have improved greatly to provide a safe and comfortable mode of transportation.
However, in a video uploaded by a stranger on TikTok, he wonders why a song is played loudly on the night bus.
@lucasungarettii I thought I was on a prank show #indonesia #nightbus ♬ original sound – Lucas Ungaretti – Solo Travel
In @lucasungarettii‘s upload, he asked if that was normal.
“POV: you take an overnight bus in Indonesia and expect to get sleep, but this is blasting all night. In what world is this normal?” she wrote in the video.
Some netizens replied that it meant the driver of night buses was giving a code for the safety of passengers because there was a suspicion of pickpocketing.
“Normal, it’s for your safety! The driver is trying to stay awake and remind you all to be mindful of your belongings! It’s not comforting, of course; that’s just how it is. Use earphones,” wrote one netizen.
Apparently, passengers who often use the bus know secret codes. One of them is to sound loud music at night because it is suspected that a pickpocket is nearby.
However, there are also those who think that the music is played loudly to prevent the driver from getting sleepy. The bus driver would set the music loud at night so as not to get sleepy because there was no one else to talk to. Only music faithfully accompanies them throughout the journey.
Unique night buses code in Indonesia
Some bus drivers or drivers’ assistants have a code if a pickpocket enters their vehicle. One of them plays loud music loudly, then turns on the lights in the bus cabin, and the driver deliberately drives the bus zig-zagging or rocking right and left.
The code is deliberately implemented so that the passengers are awake and do not fall asleep during the trip and so that the passengers’ luggage in the bus cabin can be monitored.
One of the things that pickpockets often do on the bus is that they get off before the destination city written on the ticket.
Pickpockets and other thieves, especially those working in teams, sometimes try to distract themselves by asking questions or bumping into the victim. These methods sometimes require sleight of hand, speed, and other skills.
