Ban on heavy vehicles mulled when festivals coincide with school holidays

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The government may consider banning heavy vehicles on the roads during festive seasons that coincide with school holidays to reduce traffic congestion, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar (pic).

Kamarudin, who is also Bandar Tun Razak MP, said the ban on heavy vehicles was only enforced during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year each year.

"Hari Raya Haji this year coincides with the school holidays, which without doubt will cause traffic congestion, perhaps when festivals coincide with school holidays the ban on heavy vehicles on roads should be considered in the future, " he told Bernama when attending the sacrificial ritual and aqiqah ceremony at the Desa Tasik Police Housing, Sungai Besi here Sunday (Aug 11).

He said this when asked about the traffic congestion on several major highways Saturday (Aug 10) as people returned to their hometowns in conjunction with the school holidays and Hari Raya Haji celebrations.

Bernama had earlier reported that the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway, which is the main route from the West Coast to the East Coast, is expected to record 1.65 million vehicles in conjunction with the holiday. - Bernama