The Smart Lane initiative introduced on selected stretches of the North-South Expressway (PLUS) since 2023 has reduced traffic congestion by between 30% and 50%, according to Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
Bernama reported that he told the Dewan Rakyat that monitoring by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) showed the initiative has helped improve traffic flow during peak travel periods and festive seasons, while technical assessments are continuously carried out to ensure the safety of all road users, including motorcyclists.
“Based on monitoring by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) from 2023 to date, the Smart Lane initiative has been effective in reducing traffic congestion by between 30 and 50%.
“From a safety perspective, the accident rate in Smart Lane zones was found to be very low compared with the total traffic volume along the route,” he said during the ministerial question-and-answer session.
Responding to a question from Zakri Hassan (PN-Kangar), Nanta said only 36 accidents were recorded across 12 Smart Lane locations on weekdays between January and May this year. He added that fewer incidents involved motorcyclists than on conventional routes, as riders tended to be more cautious when sharing the lane.
He said most accidents were caused by motorists failing to follow safety instructions, including using the emergency lane outside designated sections, making unsafe lane changes and stopping without valid reasons.
Nanta added that LLM requires highway concessionaires to appoint independent road safety auditors every five years to assess Smart Lane safety, while the Works Ministry and LLM are expanding the use of artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV cameras to monitor traffic density in real time and improve traffic management.
