The Penang Public Works Department has been urged to review the 40km/h speed limit along a stretch of Jalan Bukit Gambir, particularly from the PETRONAS petrol station to the junction near Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Gambir.
Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan said the request followed complaints from motorists who claimed they faced difficulties slowing down abruptly while travelling downhill along the road.
He said the existing speed limit could be challenging for motorists, particularly when descending the slope, with some road users having received traffic summonses for exceeding the 40km/h limit.
“When the speed limit is set at 40km/h, it is very difficult, especially when travelling downhill. Some road users have received summonses for exceeding the speed limit in this area,”
He urged JKR and the police to assess whether the current limit remains appropriate based on prevailing road and traffic conditions.
“Perhaps it could be 60km/h instead of 40km/h. That is my suggestion, but it is up to JKR and the police to study whether this can be implemented,” he said.
Kumaresan noted that the 40km/h speed limit had been in place for a long time and was introduced after taking several safety considerations into account.
These included the presence of a U-turn, traffic lights along the hilly stretch and a nearby school.
He stressed that any review should continue to prioritise the safety of motorists, pedestrians and schoolchildren using the area.
