KUALA LUMPUR: High traffic volume and lorry accidents have contributed to the congestion along the North-South Expressway (NSE), today.
With 1.92 million vehicles on the road and three accidents, it is no surprise that congestion ran as far as 7km for each accident location.
Plus Malaysia Berhad senior general manager Mohd Yusuf Abdul Aziz said the traffic volume is expected to increase until tomorrow as the country gears up for Chinese New Year celebration.
"Traffic volume is high despite today being a workday. We expect the number to increase as the weekend starts. Those who plan to travel later have also rescheduled it earlier to enjoy a toll-free journey,"
"Despite the heavy traffic, there are no standstill congestions except at accident locations," he said
Yusuf said that three accidents involving heavy vehicles were reported, one of which reportedly claimed two lives. All three accidents happened almost simultaneously.
"A trailer truck caught fire at KM259.5 north-bound from Seremban to Port Dickson. Along KM 283.6 north-bound from Nilai to Bangi, a lorry carrying battery scraps overturned in the middle lane, and another truck carrying eggs crashed at KM 242 at Pedas Linggi," he said.
Yusuf advised heavy vehicle drivers to be careful as many other drivers are using the road during this festive season.
He added that the northern region is usually a hotspot for congestion-- such as the stretch from Menora or Slim River-- but so far, traffic is smooth, he said to the New Straits Times.
Plus is also collaborating with the Emergency Response Team comprising police, fire department and ambulance at 10 locations along the NSE.
"We have the support from other agencies to disperse any unexpected incidents. Our patrol officers are also on standby round-the-clock to assist drivers facing issues during their journey. The traffic control centre is also operational 24-7 to ensure every phone call is answered," he said.
Police are also initiating "Ops Payung" where officers are stationed at accident-prone locations. "For example, if a rest and relaxation (R&R) area is packed, the police will mitigate traffic and help with vehicle flow,"
Yusuf advises all travellers to stay updated on traffic when they plan their journey. "The schedule we provided was just a suggestion and also a collective effort to reduce congestion,"
"There might be those who question its effectiveness but of course, it will not work if only a small number of people adhere to it. The public can also watch closed-circuit television (CCTV) in the Plus app to check the live traffic situation. There's also regular updates on Twitter,"