PLUS Malaysia Bhd (PLUS) is expecting two million motorists on its highways each day during the long holidays in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
PLUS, as part of its initiative to improve road safety and convenience for motorists, will close toll lanes for prepaid reloads and operate them as regular automated toll lanes instead.
PLUS chief operating officer Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said drones would be deployed to monitor the traffic and the PLUS Malaysia mobile application would be revamped.
“We expect an 18 per cent increase in vehicles on the road during the festive season, from 1.7 million on normal days,” he said.
“Preparations have been made in terms of highway operations and traffic distribution strategy as part of efforts to help motorists travel safer and more comfortably this festive season.”
This, he said, included issuing travel time advisory schedules from Thursday to June 10 to help motorists in their journeys to and from their hometowns.
He said road users heading for Perlis, Kedah, Penang, north Perak and Johor were advised to enter the highway before 10am, and those travelling to Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Selangor should enter the highway after 10am to avoid congestion.
He said a 70 per cent drop in the number of fatal accidents was recorded last year, with seven fatal accidents in 2018, compared with 24 fatal accidents in 2017.
Op Selamat will continue this year from Wednesday to June 12.
On ensuring safer travel for motorists, Zakaria said 5,000 staff would work on the highway ecosystem and drones would be deployed to facilitate traffic management at strategic locations.
PLUS would work with enforcement agencies, including the police and Road Transport Department, to monitor the highways.
He said 28 per cent more staff would be deployed at the Traffic Control Centre.
He added that a moratorium on maintenance and upgrading works along the highway would take effect from May 31 to June 10.
He said lanes for prepaid reload at toll booths would operate as normal lanes from May 30 to June 11 to ensure a seamless movement of traffic.
The revamped PLUS mobile application would enable users to receive live traffic updates.
The app is also equipped with an emergency “SOS” button to help motorists.
Users could also redeem PLUSMiles points at all participating outlets through the app.
Motorists may also get updates on traffic via Twitter at @PLUSTrafik, while the toll-free line is 1 800 88 0000.
On possible discounted toll rates, PLUS managing director Datuk Azman Ismail said an announcement would be made by the government by next week.
“The government, through Works Minister Baru Bian, will announce something by Tuesday,” he said.