KUALA LUMPUR: PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) has called upon motorists to adhere to its Travel Time Advisory (TTA) schedule for their Hari Raya travel between April 29 and May 9.
Its Chief Operating Officer Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said the advisory schedule is designed based on previous festive seasons and long weekend travelling patterns.
PLUS is expecting some two million vehicles to be on the road, which is a 25 per cent increase compared to the daily 1.6 million vehicles plying its highways.
The schedule is to guide and help highway customers experience a seamless journey on the highway during this year's Aidilfitri season, as there are possibilities of congestion.
"The schedule prevents traffic heading towards further destinations, from converging with those heading to nearer ones.
"TTA is also to distribute traffic and circumvent convergence of traffic entering highways on major stretches, toll plazas and rest areas, to reduce congestions.
"Therefore, we strongly urge and advise our highway customers to follow the schedule, as it may make a positive difference in their journey experience," he said in a statement, today.
He said highway users can expect a longer travel time on PLUS highways if they choose not to adhere to the TTA schedule.
"Based on previous studies and festive seasons' traffic travelling patterns' simulations, for travellers from North or South, heading towards Klang Valley may experience extended travel times from seven to ten hours, or twice as long as the average hours if they enter the highway after 9am," he said.
According to the TTA schedule, travellers from Klang Valley heading towards Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North) and Johor from April 29 to May 2 are advised to enter the highway before 10am.
"Meanwhile, those heading towards closer locations or to other states are advised to enter the highway after 1pm.
"Travellers returning to Klang Valley from Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak (North), Johor and other states between May 5 to 9 are advised to enter the highway before 9am."
Travellers can utilise PLUSTrafik Twitter services, PLUS mobile application, PLUSLine toll-free at 1800-88-0000, PLUS Texting Realtime Interface (PUTRI) Chatbox or refer to the electronic message signs (VMS) along the highway as well as tune in to traffic announcements via major radio stations for regular traffic updates.