KUALA LUMPUR: An estimated two million vehicles are on the road for the Christmas rush and long weekend, as per the prediction of PLUS Malaysia Bhd, concessionaire for the North South Expressway and several other major expressways.
Most of the major highways were busy yesterday, with many people taking advantage of the long weekend to travel back to their hometowns and holiday destinations.
Traffic, especially southbound, has started to build up with a mixture of those returning after a work week and those going on holiday during the long weekend.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim reminded road users to drive safely and adhere to traffic rules.
“I know many are eager to go back to their hometowns, especially those celebrating Christmas.
“However, it is important to prioritise safety above all else while travelling,” said Comm Azmi, who also advised the public to ensure that their vehicles were well maintained.
“The driver should have enough rest before driving a long distance. If you feel tired, stop and rest before resuming your journey.
“The ultimate goal is to reach the destination safely so that all can be with their loved ones this holiday season,” he added.
PLUS Malaysia chief operating officer Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi advised road users to ensure that they were physically and mentally prepared for travelling, especially in view of the challenging weather conditions, and to make sure their Touch ‘n Go and ewallets had enough balance to avoid delays at toll plazas.
“PLUS also shared a travel time advisory to help highway users plan their journey.
“Travellers from the Klang Valley heading either north or south are advised to enter the highway before 10am, while those heading to the east are advised to do so between noon and 4pm,” he said.
Zakaria said those heading to the Klang Valley from other states were advised to enter the highway before 10am.
“The advisory focuses on traffic distribution and is aimed at reducing congestion on the highway, most notably at major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas during the festive period. It can be obtained from www.plus.com.my or any of its social media platforms,” he said.
Meanwhile, sales manager Aurora Ayala said she was looking forward to Christmas.
“Instead of going back to my hometown in Kuching, I plan to celebrate Christmas with my family members in Kuala Lumpur.
“It has been a long year and I am looking forward to relaxing and doing some travelling to other states. Hopefully, the traffic will not be so bad,” she added.
Ayala said it was not the place that made Christmas special but who one chose to spend it with, adding: “Spending time with my family and loved ones this Christmas is important to me. We will celebrate with good food and music, and hopefully good traffic too.”
Graphic designer Mandy Khoo said she was definitely looking forward to the last long weekend of the year.
“I’m planning to spend time with my loved ones, husband and family. I will definitely treat myself to a nice meal and take some time to pursue hobbies like running,” she said
Given the expected surge of vehicles on the road, Khoo said she would refrain from travelling.
“Even on weekdays, there are so many people on the road and in malls. This long weekend will be no exception, perhaps even worse,” she said, adding that everyone needed a break from long hours at work.
Executive Logan Hisham said the long weekend was the perfect time to bring his family for travels.
“It is the school holidays too, so travelling with my family is a must. However, I am concerned about driving as the weather has not been good,” said the father of two boys.
Logan hoped that the traffic would be light as getting stuck in congestion is not the way to spend the holiday.
“I’m planning to bring my family from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur,” he added.
Logan said he and his family had just returned from the east coast on Thursday and narrowly avoided a heavy downpour as they were arriving in Johor Baru.
“So, we are hoping we’ll have similar luck for the Kuala Lumpur trip. We have many family members staying in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur whom we haven’t seen for quite some time,” he added.
