SOME 3.8 million vehicles are expected to use the expressways to go to their destinations during the Chinese New Year holidays starting this weekend.

Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said with the expected increase in traffic volume, Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has taken several initiatives to ensure smooth traffic flow and road users’ safety during the period.

They include Op Selamat, carried out since last Friday with the cooperation of police, and Op Bersepadu, to be launched tomorrow with the cooperation of the Road Transport Department.

Nanta said LLM and the concession companies will operate round the clock with additional staff to be on duty.

“We will also ensure that the toll collection system works well and provide additional lanes to reduce congestion at toll plazas,” he said during an interview with Bernama Radio today.

Nanta said tow trucks will be stationed at selected locations to help in the event of accidents.

He said construction and maintenance work by highway concessionaires, involving lane closures, will be stopped from January 20 to 25.

He said 4,379 fatalities on the roads were recorded in the country from January to September last year, involving 402,626 accidents.

“This is an increase of 36% or 147,094 cases compared with the same period in 2021,” he added. – Bernama, January 16, 2023.