Traffic on highways expected to reach four million vehicles daily with lifting of interstate travel ban

KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic at all major highways is expected to reach some four million vehicles daily following the lifting of the interstate travel ban.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Mat Kasim Karim said 3.8 million vehicles were on highways nationwide on Thursday (Oct 14) but traffic remained smooth.

"The Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) estimates the number of vehicles at all highways will continue to increase to four million daily as many are travelling interstate.

"Some 4.5 million vehicles were on the road daily in February and March last year prior to the implementation of the movement control order (MCO)," he said when contacted on Friday (Oct 15).

On Thursday (Oct 14), some 1,112,215 vehicles were on the North-South Highway, 112,852 on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, and 41,221 vehicles on the East Coast Highway, Comm Mat Kassim said.

"Traffic at toll plazas also increased on Thursday compared to a week before, prior to the lifting of the interstate travel ban.

"At the Jalan Duta toll plaza, traffic increased some 29% from 43,008 vehicles to 55,333 vehicles. (There was also a) 28% increase at Sungai Besi toll plaza, 37% at Skudai toll plaza, 38% at Juru toll plaza, 126% increase at Gombak toll plaza – which is 65,490 vehicles compared to 29,042 a week prior – a 69% increase at Bentong toll plaza and 40% increase at Karak toll plaza," he added.

Comm Mat Kasim said no unusual traffic congestion has been detected so far.

"Traffic remains smooth and my department personnel have been deployed to monitor the situation.

"We are also working with other agencies such as the MHA and highway companies to ensure that travellers abide by Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP)," he added.

Comm Mat Kasim said his department will focus on advocacy and total enforcement to ensure that all motorists abide by the rules and regulations so that traffic remains smooth for all road users.