Mixed reactions to Malaysia’s plan to clamp down on buses, lorries using fast lane on highways

PETALING JAYA - While express bus owners say they will abide by rules under the Road Transport Act, lorry drivers’ associations want the authorities to consider the reality on the ground before enforcing a ban on heavy vehicles travelling on the right-most lanes of highways.

The mixed views from the commercial vehicle groups came after the Transport Ministry reminded drivers of such vehicles that they will not be allowed to drive on these lanes when using highways.

In a news report on March 18, the ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan, pointed out that the prohibition was gazetted in 2015 but has yet to be enforced.

“Under this regulation, lorries and buses must remain in the left lane and cannot be driven at high speeds. If they wish to overtake other vehicles, they are allowed to move to the second lane before returning to the left. However, they are strictly prohibited from using the third lane at any time.

“We will resubmit this matter to the minister to ensure its enforcement for heavy vehicles on highways,” he said in an interview.

Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali, president of the Pan-Malaysian Bus Operators Association, said the Act clearly spells out the use of right-most lanes and speed limits.

“The right lane should only be used when overtaking. Buses and lorries are heavy vehicles and slow-moving. There is already a speed limit imposed on heavy vehicles. It is the right decision and we support it,” he said.

“The enforcement by the authorities is important in holding the driver solely responsible,” said Mr Mohamad Ashfar, adding that he hopes the authorities will not clamp down on the entire fleet based on one errant driver.

However, Mr Alvin Choong, secretary-general of the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Lorry Operators Association, said banning heavy vehicles altogether from the right-most lanes would disrupt the smooth flow of traffic and does not address the reason why drivers use these lanes in the first place.

“The move is not that practical. Not all highways have more than two lanes, and restricting them from using the right lanes would only cause traffic jams and endanger other road users.

“Since there are many slow-moving vehicles travelling in the left lanes, too, how would the authorities implement the law banning commercial vehicles travelling in the right lane, given that this would cause massive congestion?

“The high number of commercial vehicles plying highways is to ensure smooth delivery of goods and daily necessities.”

Mr Choong added: “Please do not discard the contributions of commercial vehicles in our daily lives. Do not make us the scapegoat for poor planning on the highways.”

Mr Alvin Loke, treasurer of the Negeri Sembilan Lorry Operators’ Association, noted that there are already stretches along highways that do not allow overtaking and which confine heavy vehicles to the left lanes.

“We are hounded by the authorities waiting to pounce on us when we overtake. Enforcing this will increase the possibility of corruption for those needing to overtake,” he said. 

The ministry’s proposal to enforce the ban is one of five measures to be implemented to tighten regulations on commercial vehicles. The move comes in the wake of a recent spate of fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles on expressways. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK