The natural beauty of Mount Bromo continues to draw countless tourists from Indonesia and abroad. Yet, beneath its breathtaking charm, the journey to this famous destination holds real danger, especially for those using automatic scooters or motor matic.
Several warning banners have been installed along the access roads to Mount Bromo, advising visitors not to ride automatic scooters on the steep climbs and sharp descents. This advisory comes from the Probolinggo Police Traffic Unit, the local Transportation Department, and the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Authority (BB TNBTS).
The warning isn’t without reason. Traffic accidents are becoming increasingly common in the area, with many cases involving automatic scooters unable to handle the challenging terrain.
Septi Eka Wardhani, Head of Administration at BB TNBTS, emphasized that this isn’t a ban, but a vital safety advisory. “We’re not prohibiting it, we’re just advising visitors to be extra cautious because the terrain leading to and within the area is quite challenging. We’re only making this recommendation for the safety and security of the visitors,” said Septi on Sunday (June 8, 2025).
Supporting this initiative, AKP Safiq Jundhira Zulkarnaen, Head of Probolinggo Police Traffic Unit, explained that the Road Traffic and Transport Forum (LLAJ) fully backs the government’s advisory.
“We fully support the advisory to the public regarding the use of automatic scooters on the Sukapura Bromo tourist route. Considering there have been several traffic accidents in that area involving automatic scooters, which are suspected to have occurred due to brake failure,” said Safiq.
The dangers are not just theoretical. A tragic incident recently occurred on one of the steep downhill roads near Mount Bromo, claiming two lives. The riders lost control after their scooter’s brakes failed on Jalan Raya Bromo in Ngadisari Village, Sukapura District, Probolinggo Regency.
This deadly accident adds to the list of previous similar incidents in the area, further justifying the repeated warnings. The risk appears to be especially high on sharp descents where brake systems on automatic scooters tend to overheat and lose function.
A 21-second video has gone viral on social media showing several tourists choosing to push their scooters while navigating the dangerous downhill paths in the Bromo tourist zone. The video captures four motorcycles being manually pushed by their owners in Ngadisari Village, Sukapura District, Probolinggo, East Java. This scene has gained positive reactions from netizens who appreciated the riders’ caution.
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Edy Suryanto, Head of the Probolinggo Regency Transportation Department, hopes that safety campaigns like this will expand to all routes leading to Mount Bromo, not just the roads from the Cemorolawang side.
“We hope this safety advisory can be promoted together with all stakeholders, including those coming from other routes to Mount Bromo, not just from the Cemorolawang direction,” said Edy on Monday (June 9).
The Probolinggo Police Traffic Unit also reminded all Mount Bromo visitors and local residents to thoroughly check their brakes, engines, and tires before taking on the challenging routes around the mountain. This step is crucial to prevent more accidents that could tragically claim lives.
