PLUS has announced 33 Smartlane zones on the North South Highway for the Hari Raya Aidiladha holiday this week, which coincides with the YDPA’ Agong’s birthday and Wesak Day to form a long weekend. The locations span from Penang in the north to Johor – check out the list below for northern, central and southern SmartLane zones.
If you’re not already aware, SmartLane is the opening of highway emergency lanes for legal use by light or passenger vehicles. It is to help smoothen traffic flow by optimising all lanes available and increase capacity at critical stretches on the highway.
Note that before the start of a SmartLane, there will be signs to inform motorists 1km and 500 metres before the start point, and there will also be an electronic mobile sign board just before the start, which will have another sign with a green light. Reminders that you’re in an active SmartLane will be set up every 500 metres, and there will be a green light every 1km too. With all these in place, perhaps motorcyclists will be aware that they have to share.
All good things come to an end however, and 200 metres before the end of the SmartLane, you will see a ‘TAMAT’ sign, which will also be at the end point. These reminders were issued during the previous festivals, and they should also apply now.
When using the SmartLane, follow the speed limit, and PLUS recommends that you drive below 60 km/h. Once you’re in, stick to it till the end and do not merge back into the regular lane. Motorists in the leftmost regular lane are advised to give way to merging traffic at the SmartLane’s end point.
Remember, the use of highway emergency lanes are only legal at designated SmartLane zones, and if you’re caught using it outside of these 30 areas, it remains an offence. Be alert and drive safe.
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northern bertam to juru, can see 7 signboard but only one light function. Rider will show u middle finger when u use this part of the road. Maybe they do’t know about this so call smartlane
riders usually stupid and entitled. They usually dont follow law. So dont expect riders to understand what is SmartLane, because the law do not apply to riders.
Tiny bikes should be banned outright from highspeed highways. They dont pay but ride like the highway belongs to them. and when they fall, they cause traffic jams.
From a regular NSE user POV, this “smart lane” should not be a permanent thing as it uses the Emergency Lane which may be prone to potential accidents especially from Slim River all the way to Juru and beyond.
Actual adding an additional lane should be the longer term solution similar to the section between Slim River to KL.
Works Ministry and Ministry of Traansport should work towards this immediately. PLUS is making money, so there should not be any reason for not doing so.
As a regular user I have noted that the traffic volume have increased significantly over the past decade more so after the COVID. Number of new cars on the road has been increasing at an average of 700k yearly.