SEPANG: Speed limits on federal and state roads will be reduced by 10km/h from today until January 27, while road bans will also be imposed on vehicles carrying goods on certain days.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nantaringji said the speed reduction will reduce the speed limit on federal roads to 80 kilometers per hour and state roads to 70 kilometers per hour to coincide with the Lunar New Year celebrations. Traffic will be high.
“Current (speed limit) signage will change to reflect the slowdown on federal and state roads during this period,” he told reporters yesterday after launching a Lunar New Year road safety campaign in Dengkil with Transport Minister Anthony Loke northbound Rest stops here.
Nanta said the move was one of precautionary measures to improve safety and reduce the risk of road accidents, especially during the festive season.
“The Ministry of Works will continue to monitor traffic conditions in close cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and the police,” he added.
He added that collaborative efforts between highway concessionaires, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the police included data sharing and detailed statistics to reduce the rate of accidents involving heavy vehicles and motorcycles.
“This is in line with the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022-2030, which is to reduce road accident-related deaths by 50% by 2030,” he said.
Nanta said the ministry also carried out repairs at 53 accident-prone locations along federal highways last year at a cost of RM17.2 million.
Lu Zhaofu said that on January 20, 21, 24 and 25, vehicles carrying goods will also be banned from the road to reduce traffic congestion.
“This ban takes into account the significant increase in traffic, especially for private vehicles returning home.
“The national speed limit reduction order will also be enforced in conjunction with this road ban,” he said.
Loke said as many as 2,000 JPJ personnel will be on duty to celebrate the upcoming ceremony.
“The move (by JPJ) has included taking express buses cautiously to ensure that these operators abide by the law. This is a precautionary measure compared to issuing compounds and making sure their vehicles are fit for the road.
“We want to educate, advocate and prevent any accidents from happening,” he added.
Other measures taken by the JPJ are surveillance activities at 14 enforcement stations along the highway, as well as patrols on federal roads, Loke said.
He said JPJ had inspected buses at 77 depots and 28 bus terminals from January 14 to yesterday.
