Bus drivers tested for drugs as holiday exodus begins in Indonesia

The Indonesian Health Ministry has started testing bus drivers for drug and alcohol use and general fitness in a bid to boost safety as exodus to homelands for celebrating Islamic festivity has started, local media reported Tuesday.

Tjandra Yoga Aditama, the ministry's director general for disease control and environmental health, said that inspectors would test drivers at major bus terminals in the week leading up to Islamic festivity, Eid al-Fitr, which is expected to start on or around this Sunday. "We're doing checks for alcohol and amphetamine use, as well as for blood pressure and blood sugar level. We'll then categorize the drivers as fit to travel, fit but with concerns or unfit," he was quoted by the Jakarta globe as saying.

Last year, over 16 million Indonesian returned to hometowns to celebrate the festivity, which is a tradition in Indonesia.

Police expect almost 5.6 million people to travel by road this year.

Most of Indonesia's 238 million population are Muslims, making it the world's most populous Muslim country.