Expansion Clearer Signage and Beyond PLUS Highways
SmartLane activation on highways across Malaysia is expanding, moving beyond those managed by the PLUS Malaysia company. During a recent session in the Dewan Rakyat, the deputy works minister confirmed that discussions will be held with PLUS Malaysia and the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) to increase awareness about SmartLane usage.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Emerging from today’s Dewan Rakyat broadcast, the deputy works minister also emphasized that emergency lanes on highways are not exclusively for motorcyclists. This statement was made in response to a question posed by Tampin member of parliament Mohd Isam Mohd Isa. Isam inquired about the Ministry of Works’ plan to raise awareness among highway users about various factors, such as speed limits, hours of activation, and the length of SmartLane sections.
Isam also highlighted that the signboards for SmartLane sections on the highways are insufficiently visible to motorists due to their small size. This has led to a conflict between car drivers and motorcyclists over the use of SmartLane sections, particularly in specific incidents on the NKVE in 2022 and on multiple occasions last month.
t/f Summary: What’s Next
The broader activation of SmartLane sections on highways is currently underway. The Ministry of Works is holding discussions with relevant stakeholders to enhance awareness amongst highway users about the parameters of SmartLane usage. Future efforts are aimed at improving signage and reducing conflicts between car drivers and motorcyclists.
The Malaysian government identifies 36.3m registered vehicles nationwide (Dec 2023).