PETALING JAYA, March 19 — Traffic on main highways has been increasing since morning as people head back to their hometowns, but it is under control, said PLUS Malaysia Bhd senior general operations manager Mohd Yusuf Abdul Aziz.
He added that there has been a 30 to 40 per cent increase in vehicle volume, with over two million road users recorded today.
“This movement trend actually started on Monday when more than 2.1 million vehicles were recorded leaving the capital up to yesterday, showing a gradual increase ahead of the festive season.
“Although vehicle volume has significantly gone up, traffic flow as a whole is under control and journeys are going smoothly,” he said when met at Persada PLUS here today.
Yusuf said the number of vehicles is set to continue rising, with a possible surge late tonight, especially on main routes to the northern region and east coast.
He added that PLUS is focusing on three aspects to ensure smooth traffic — efficient traffic and incident management, a more balanced vehicle flow distribution, and preserving highway users’ comfort.
He also urged road users to plan their journeys for appropriate times using the MyPLUS-TTA, and to adhere to authorities’ orders to prevent congestion, especially at peak hours.
He said that the travel-time advisory (TTA) was formulated based on real-time traffic data simulations, which provides road users with an accurate guide.
“(The TTA) was developed based on data analysis to provide a more comprehensive picture of traffic conditions,” he added.
Yusuf emphasised that the main challenge is to manage the movement of motorcycles, which were identified as the largest contributor to fatal highway crashes.
He advised motorcyclists to drive carefully and adhere to traffic rules to prevent untoward incidents.
“PLUS works with various government agencies to ensure highway users’ safety is at an optimum level,” Yusuf said.
