PETALING JAYA: A total of 2.3 million vehicles are expected to use the PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) highways as road users make their way home for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
PLUS managing director Datuk Nik Airina Nik Jaffar said the figure for peak travel periods represents a 21% increase in average daily traffic.
She said PLUS has identified March 18 to 20 and 27 to 29 as the peak travel days.
“The projected increase follows the trend recorded during the recent Chinese New Year period, when daily traffic volumes exceeded two million vehicles,” she said during a press conference on Thursday (March 12).
She said PLUS has outlined three key approaches in preparation for the increase in traffic during the festive season.
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These include efficient traffic and incident management, optimising traffic distribution, and enhancing user comfort to ensure a safer and more pleasant travel experience.
Nik Airina said preparations had also been made based on travel patterns and analysis from previous festive seasons.
“PLUS encourages highway users to plan their journeys when travelling back to their hometowns and returning to the Klang Valley by referring to the MyPLUS-TTA digital travel schedule, available through the PLUS app.
“The app can be accessed for journeys on the PLUS Highway and the Lebuhraya Pantai Timur 2 (LPT2) from March 18 to 30.
“Reflecting past trends and anticipated traffic for the upcoming festive season, highway users may experience longer travel times if their journeys fall outside the recommended MyPLUS-TTA schedule," she said.
She added that the projections, however, are subject to change based on live traffic conditions, incidents or unforeseen circumstances.
Nik Airina said PLUS has also continued to enhance facilities at Rest and Service Areas (R&R) and lay-bys across its highway network, spanning more than 60 R&R and lay-by locations for highway users’ convenience.
“PLUS has also established more than 100 emergency bays at strategic locations along the highway.
“These areas serve as emergency stopping points during incidents or unforeseen circumstances, helping to ensure motorists’ safety and smoother traffic flow,” she said.
