KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, 26 accidents were recorded at six locations along the North-South Expressway (PLUS), which are deemed as hotspots where lorries and trailers can usually be found parking illegally.
PLUS, in a statement to the New Straits Times, said it was aware of the problem regarding the large vehicles parked in the emergency lane at night and that it was monitoring the situation.
The hotspots are:
Sungai Petani-Gurun stretch (northbound) — six accidents in 2018;
Rawang Selatan layby-Sungai Buloh Hospital stretch (southbound) — six accidents in 2018;
Kuala Lumpur International Airport-Putrajaya (northbound): five accidents in 2018;
Kuala Kangsar-Bukit Gantang (northbound) — three accidents in 2018;
Bukit Lanjan-Rawang Selatan (northbound) — three accidents in 2018; and
Senai Utara-Skudai (southbound)— three accidents in 2018.
PLUS said while stopping illegally in the emergency lane was a traffic offence, there were instances where drivers parked their heavy vehicles in the emergency lane to rest and sleep.
“There are instances where lorry drivers stop in the emergency lane to wait for other drivers and to enter the city centre after the 6.30am to 9.30am heavy vehicle ban period.
“There are cases where lorry drivers had to stop in the emergency lane due to a vehicle breakdown,” said the highway concessionaire.
PLUS said its PLUSRonda teams, upon noticing these lorries in the emergency lane, would advise the drivers to move their vehicles immediately.
“While most drivers are cooperative, there were incidents where drivers refused to move and stated that they have no other options to stop, rest and sleep after their long journey.”
PLUS said it had reduced the number of accidents due to heavy vehicles stopping in the emergency lane between 2017 and this year through aggressive monitoring in collaboration with the authorities, such as the police and the Road Transport Department (RTD).
It said while 2017 saw 112 accidents, the figure was reduced the following year to 97.
This year, from January to February, three cases were reported.
On steps taken to tackle the problem, PLUS said it had measures, including providing designated heavy-vehicle parking bays at its rest areas and laybys.
“PLUS has converted the Sungai Buloh Layby (southbound) into a truckers centre with facilities. PLUS collaborates with the police and RTD to reduce these incidences.”
The company said it had installed signages in the highway to remind drivers of heavy vehicles not to abuse the emergency lane, rest area entry and exit slip roads.
Police believed the problem stem from the attitude of lorry drivers, whom they said acted without any regard for other people.
Bukit Aman Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department director Datuk Azisman Alias said lorries were the biggest culprits when it came to parking in the emergency lane.
Azisman said that in 2017, there were 2,107 cases of lorry drivers parking in the lane.
This figure was reduced to 1,469 cases last year.
Buses fared better, said Azisman, with 90 cases recorded in 2017, and 51 last year.
He said police would continue to conduct joint operations with PLUS to tackle the issue.
He advised motorists to report illegally parked vehicles in the lane to PLUS and the police.