PUTRAJAYA: Several measures have been taken by the authorities to reduce accidents and road fatalities during the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season, including reducing the speed limit at federal and state roads from 90kph to 80kph for a period of 36 days effective Oct 6.
The authorities will also be imposing a travel ban on heavy vehicles during the festive period but exception is given to lorries transporting essential goods and providing critical services.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas said the lower speed limit would be enforced from Oct 6 till Nov 12 but the speed limit of 110kph along expressways remains.
He said lorries transporting gas, chemicals for the medical and chemical industries, cargos and containers to and from the airports as well as from ports to airports would be allowed on the roads during the festive period.
Also exempted are lorries transporting and involved in daily essential goods/services such as food items, fruits, vegetables, newspapers and poultry, garbage and sewerage trucks, petroleum tankers and those involved in rescue operations.
"With the traffic volume on Malaysian roads expected to increase by two to three folds during the festive period, the authorities are taking all the necessary measures to ensure those going home to their respective towns and villages can travel in a more conducive manner.
"We are doing all we can so that motorists can reach their destinations safely but we also hope they play their part by being more responsible while on the road," he told a press conference.
Douglas said the travel ban would be imposed on Oct 10, 11, 12, 20 and 21, on lorries transporting timber, iron, stones, sand and earth, apart from cranes, low loaders and other types of heavy vehicles, while cargo or container lorries with electronic and electrical goods and those serving port-airport routes would be allowed to travel from 6am till midnight.
"Selective enforcement will be carried out by the police, Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board under Ops Sikap 13 from Oct 7 till 21. The JPJ will mobilise 1,200 personnel for duty during the festive period and their duty encompasses checks on express, tour and stage buses. They will also be checking on the drivers to ensure they have all the sufficient permits and licences," he said.
He said a maximum compound of RM300 with no appeal would be slapped on drivers who commit six types of road offences namely speeding, jumping queue, beating the traffic light, driving along emergency lanes, driving dangerously and overtaking at double lines, adding action would also be taken against motorcyclists and pillion riders if they fail to wear helmets or change lanes in a dangerous manner without using the indicator.
"The relevant enforcement parties will also ensure that bus drivers are only on duty for eight hours a day and be given rest time after every four hours of driving. We will also check that buses serving a route of more than 300km or four hours travelling time must have a co-driver and that their journey be logged," said Douglas.
He said media road safety campaigns would be increased with the help of the private sector, which would air special advertisements on road safety during the festive period, adding a special message on road safety by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy would also be published.
