KUALA LUMPUR: The inimitable characters of Lat's cartoons are helping to dole out road safety advice to those joining the balik kampung exodus.

Lat or Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, who has made the ritual Balik Kampung  rush the subject of some of his jokes, is mobilising his retinue to help PLUS Expressways Bhd reach out to road users this year.

  PLUS' corporate communications general manager, Khalilah Datuk Mohd Talha said Lat's cartoons would spice up the company's "Road Safety Balik Kampung Campaign" advertisements in the New Straits Times  and Berita Harian.

  "We hope Lat's cartoon characters, who are familiar to   Malaysians, will attract the attention of travellers.

  "In this way PLUS' travel time advisory will be followed by road users and  avert  traffic congestion and ensure a smooth ride  home."

  Khalilah was speaking after handing out  500 copies each of  NST and BH to motorists leaving the city through the Sungai Besi toll plaza here yesterday.

  Another 500 copies  of the  newspapers were also distributed at the Jalan Duta toll plaza.

  She said the cartoons would be published in  for eight days, starting yesterday.

  Khalilah said PLUS estimated that 1.3 million vehicles would use the expressway during the Hari Raya period.

  The balik kampung exodus began  yesterday afternoon  with traffic jams on the city's roads leading to the expressways and major federal roads.    

  Many offices were closed earlier yesterday to allow Muslim staff to beat the  traffic crawl back home. Road congestion  is expected to  continue until Sunday night.

  Large  crowds were seen at bus terminals and pick-up points for additional buses in the city.   Schools also reported low attendances.