This initiative will see no toll charges for two days, which is this Thursday and Friday
The Malaysian highway authority (LLM) expects an increase in traffic volume of up to 2.4 million vehicles a day starting tomorrow for Chinese New Year and in a bid to help ease congestion, the Government has started an initiative that will cost them about RM2.99 million by providing toll exemptions.
Yes, another seasonal holiday, another bout of toll exemptions, and this time, it will last two days, I guess Chinese New Year came early then, eh? Because for the next two days (9 and 10 February 2024, Thursday and Friday) there will be toll exemptions to ensure that all Malaysians who wish to “balik kampung” can do so with ease.
Moreover, in a statement today, the LLM said 1.5 million vehicles will use the North-South Expressway (PLUS), with 199,000 vehicles expected on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway, 106,000 vehicles on the East Coast Expressway 1 and 61,000 vehicles on the East Coast Expressway 2. That’s a lot of cars.
The works ministry will also temporarily reduce the speed limit on all federal roads nationwide from 90 kilometres per hour (km/h) to 80km/h starting tomorrow until 13 February 2024 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration. Whether or not this will yield any result is yet to be seen but it will definitely piss a few people off.
On top of that, in a statement, the ministry said the temporary reduction in speed limit was among the measures being taken by the government to enhance road safety and reduce the risk of accidents that often occur during festive seasons. Well, at least the government is thinking of more than one way to ease congestion, will it work though?
For now, I would just be glad that we are getting toll exemptions at all and just try to stick to the reduced speed limit for as much as I can if I were one of the many Malaysians who will no doubt be taking advantage of the cheaper travel fares starting tomorrow and I encourage all of our readers to do the same.
Just remember the old adage “better late than never,” and that Chinese New Year is not about toll exemptions, but about spending time with loved ones (maybe gambling over mahjong but DSF does not condone any gambling so gamble at your own risk), and enjoying good food. So stay safe on the road, Malaysia and Gong Xi Fa Cai.
