The relocated traffic lights now face the entrance of SMJK Chung Hwa, allowing parents to turn right into the school’s lay-by to drop off or pick up their children.
PARENTS of students from SMJK Chung Hwa, Kuala Lumpur, are happy with traffic management improvements in the area since a set of traffic lights has been moved closer to the school.
The traffic lights on Jalan Gombak, which is installed for the school, now enables motorists to turn right to a lay-by as well as make a U-turn.
This helps ease traffic flow when school is in session, the parents say.
The school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman Raymond Tan said the traffic lights were earlier located between the school’s entrance and exit so motorists, including parents, could only make a U-turn and drop off their children by the roadside.
“There were many minor accidents that happened at the stretch in front of the school,” he said.
Tan said the PTA had initially suggested closing off the U-turn at the traffic lights during peak hours.
“After several discussions, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) decided to move the traffic lights further up to align the right turn into the school lay-by.
“We hope roadworks to move the traffic lights are completed by the time school reopens for the new academic year on March 20.
“With more than 2,000 students attending the morning session, the PTA might need to hire an additional People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) member to assist in traffic management,” he added.
In July last year, StarMetro highlighted the issue of peak-hour traffic congestion whenever parents ferry their children to and from school.
The PTA has since been in talks with the authorities on devising a plan to ease congestion.
Wangsa Maju PKR chief Andre Lai said relocating the traffic lights had made it safer for everyone.
“The new location enables parents to turn into the school’s lay-by, while others can make a U-turn.
“However, the effectiveness of this move will only be seen when school reopens next month,” he said.
“Parents and drivers can also drop students by the roadside across the school and the children will have to use the pedestrian bridge to cross over,” he added.
