THE number of vehicles on highways nationwide is expected to increase significantly starting Tuesday when people begin returning to their hometowns in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the increase in traffic is a normal phenomenon every time a big festival approaches, with Plus expecting two million vehicles to use the highway during peak days starting March 20.
“Every time the festive season approaches, the number of vehicles on the road will increase significantly because many people return to their hometowns.
“The government continues to emphasise road safety aspects, especially during the festive season,” he said.
Loke said police statistics showed that more than 6,000 lives are lost on the road every year, with motorcycle riders and pillions being a high-risk group that contributes 66 per cent of the total deaths.
“The most worrying group is young riders aged 16 to 30 years old who recorded almost 50 per cent of the total deaths,” he said.
Therefore, the government is also encouraging the automotive industry to produce safer vehicles, namely the requirement of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) for motorcycles with a capacity of 150cc and above as a measure to improve rider safety. – March 14, 2026
