Traffic congestion has been in the zeitgeist as of late with traffic jams getting worse than even pre-pandemic times and government solutions which might not even work. To try and solve the issue, or at least reduce it, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) is turning to existing laws that have had lax enforcement.
JPJ is reminding operators and drivers of goods vehicles that any slow-moving vehicle exceeding 7,500 kg in laden weight — reduced from the previous 10,000 kg limit — is not allowed on the main roads into Kuala Lumpur during peak hours. Specifically, this covers 6.30 AM until 9.30 AM and from 4.30 PM until 7.30 PM, as stipulated in the Road Transport (Slow Moving Vehicles) (Prohibition of Use on Road) (City of Kuala Lumpur) 1994 [PDF].
Gazetted roads with the travel restrictions of at least five kilometres from the city centre have a special signboard prohibiting heavy vehicles from entering the city centres within the stipulated times. Some of the roads prohibit goods vehicles during both the morning and evening while some only have road bans during the evening.
Roads that have heavy vehicle restrictions during both the morning and evening peak hours include:
- All roads within the Kuala Lumpur city centre
- Jalan Kuching – from Taman Wahyu in Jalan Ipoh to the city centre
- Jalan Genting Klang – from TAR College until the city centre
- Jalan Cheras – from Taman Midah to the city centre.
- PLUS highway – from Rawang R&R towards Kuala Lumpur
- PLUS highway – from Bukit Raja toll plaza, Klang towards Kuala Lumpur
- Jalan Tun Razak
- Jalan Istana
- Jalan Segambut
- Jalan Sentul
Roads that have heavy vehicle restrictions only during the evening peak hours:
- Jalan Kepong
- Jalan Ipoh – from Bulatan Kepong until Jalan Batu Caves
- Karak Highway
- Jalan Gombak – from Jalan Kampung Bandar Dalam until the Kuala Lumpur border
- Jalan Genting Klang
- Jalan Cheras – from Jalan Pudu until Jalan Tenteram
- Jalan Sungai Besi – from Jalan Kuchai Lama to the KL-Seremban highway
- Jalan Kelang Lama – from the federal highway to Jalan Kuchai Lama
While these restrictions have been in place for a while, JPJ stated that from its observations, operators and drivers of heavy vehicles have been disregarding the rule and contributing to the traffic congestion since the country’s transition to endemicity began. Those found to violate these rules will face a compound not exceeding RM300 or they can be charged in court with a fine not less than RM300 and not exceeding RM2,000.
(Source: JPJ/Facebook, Bernama)
