Heavy vehicle ban from right lane on highways will not cause congestion; number of lanes are the same: LLM

Heavy vehicle ban from right lane on highways will not cause congestion; number of lanes are the same: LLM

The banning of heavy vehicles from the right-hand-side lane on highways will not cause added congestion or increase traffic risks, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) has said. This is because the number of lanes on highways remained the same, with the only difference being how they were used, said LLM central region director Mohammed Ridzuan Jahidin, the New Straits Times reported.

Previously, most heavy vehicles would stick to the left lane and avoid the right lane. However, when a slower-moving lorry is in the left lane, another lorry behind it would try to overtake. Since lorries are generally slow, this would cause congestion behind them, and this is why we are designating the right lane strictly for overtaking. Lorries can still use this lane when necessary, and in hilly areas, they can use the climbing lane as well,” Ridzuan said.

This comes after lorry associations were reported as saying that banning heavy vehicles from the rightmost lane on highways is not practical, subsequent to the Malaysian government’s decision to enforce the ban on heavy vehicles from the lane intended for fastest-moving traffic.

Heavy vehicle ban from right lane on highways will not cause congestion; number of lanes are the same: LLM

The rule banning buses and lorries from the rightmost lane was gazetted in 2015, but had yet to be enforced, transport ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan said earlier.

“Under this rule, lorries and buses must stay in the left lane and are not allowed to speed. If they need to overtake, they may move to the second lane and then return to the left. However, they are strictly prohibited from using the third lane at any time. Therefore, we will resubmit this proposal to the minister to ensure its enforcement for heavy vehicles on highways,” Jana Santhiran said in an earlier interview.

The move to enforce the ban is one of the five measures that will be implemented to tighten regulations on commercial vehicles. The other regulatory enhancements include mandatory speed control device installation, GPS tracking, high-speed weigh-in-motion (HS-WIM) detectors at 11 highway locations, and additional automated enforcement system (AES) cameras.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • newme on Mar 19, 2025 at 5:36 pm

    “Lorries can still use this lane when necessary, and in hilly areas, they can use the climbing lane as well,” Ridzuan said.”

    The lorry drivers will treat all situations as ‘necessary’

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 1
  • If we got 3 lanes for hill climb it could be easier, while enforcing speed monitoring and regulation for heavy Lorry and all Vehicles.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • enforcement is the key, there are drivers, no matter heavy vehicle or car, that stick on the right lane and refuse to give way.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • opmanmy on Mar 20, 2025 at 8:05 am

    It will just “sop” as usual. First, hanghat tahi ayam…after that, back to “normal”. Boleh-land.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Kea Was on Mar 20, 2025 at 8:20 am

    Well when the middle lane is nowadays the slowest and everyone wants to hog this lane so now everyone can justify overtaking for their benefit.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Lanhb on Mar 20, 2025 at 9:35 am

    As long as there is a reply from the authorities haha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Camels of the night clan on Mar 20, 2025 at 1:17 pm

      Spokeman tried not to offend the yellow umbrella stakeholders of these lorry bus association

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • casta on Mar 20, 2025 at 11:56 am

    don’t forget those mangkok car owners who selfishly park @ heavy vehicles parking lot (lorry & bus) at R&R causing drivers have to either park at r&r entry & exit.. so what is highway operators, MHA, RTD & Traffic actions on it? or at least contingency plan to reduce issues?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kamal on Mar 20, 2025 at 12:12 pm

    slow drivers hogging the middle lane should also be banned

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • kenny_lim on Mar 20, 2025 at 12:54 pm

    “rightmost lane was gazetted in 2015, but had yet to be enforced”

    – ada tapi tak ada, apa kebodohan ini? ada law tapi tak payah follow law

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • BKCHOY on Mar 20, 2025 at 4:46 pm

    I think this is a good move, as lorries and buses often overspeed and is very dangerous . I feel afraid when there is a speeding lorry or bus driving at 110km/hr behind me

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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