By Lynn Lee, Indonesia Correspondent

SCHOOLCHILDREN have become the latest victims of Jakarta's traffic gridlock, as local officials recently decided to get creative in tackling the Indonesian capital's notorious traffic jams.

Despite parental protests, city administrators decided last month that classes would start at 6.30am instead of the usual 7am when the school term began on Monday.

The aim was to get parents and students going to school off the roads earlier, which they said would reduce morning traffic congestion by up to 14 per cent. Companies, added the administrators, would also be urged to stagger starting times from 7.30am to 9am.

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