JOHOR BARU: Motorists who cut the queue on the Tebrau Highway heading towards Jalan Lingkaran Dalam may find themselves in hot water. Police are now intensifying enforcement against traffic offenders.
Despite it being a stone's throw from the Johor police contingent headquarters, the Tebrau Highway-Lingkaran Dalam junction has become a hotspot for queue-jumpers.
Drivers often misused the dedicated U-turn-lane on the far right to bypass traffic before abruptly swerving left when the lights turn green — a move that infuriates those who followed the rules.
Frustrated drivers have voiced their complaints, including Nizam Alam, 44, who commutes daily on the route.
"It's annoying to wait in line while others selfishly cut in.
"During morning peak hours, it gets really bad.
"I sometimes have to wait through three light cycles before I can make my turn towards Danga Bay," he told the 'New Straits Times'.
G. Khrishnan, 63, a security guard, said it was frustrating that the queue-jumpers got away, despite the police headquarters being less than 100 metres away.
While Wong, 38, expressed concerns about safety of motorists who queued in their lane for the traffic lights to turn green.
"Queue jumpers often swerve suddenly without signalling to avoid getting blocked by drivers already in line.
"I have seen heated arguments and accidents.
"It also clogged the U-turn-lane, causing delays for those who actually need to make a U-turn."
Meanwhile, Johor Baru (South) police chief Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat confirmed that police have ramped up action against the errant drivers.
Yesterday, traffic officers issued eight summonses to motorists caught cutting queues along the slip road at Susur 10 of Jalan Tebrau towards Jalan Lingkaran Dalam.
Police also reviewed dashcam footages provided by complainants to identify the offenders.
Raub acknowledged that while the junction is prone to congestion due to traffic lights, the situation is made worse by queue-jumpers.
"Operations against the offenders are ongoing."