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When there is a traffic jam, there are many vehicles crowded closely together, making moving difficult for a while. In major cities and small communities, it is a common occurrence. It is currently one of the biggest issues facing our nation. Rapid population expansion, an increase in the number of vehicles, and limited roadways are the main contributors to traffic bottlenecks. Traffic congestion is a major issue that wastes our time. A traffic gridlock severely hinders our ability to work. A traffic gridlock can be avoided by using well-designed, roomy roadways, rigorous traffic laws, and an adequate number of traffic police. We can only hope that, after taking all these steps, a good traffic infrastructure will exist for simple and comfortable mobility.

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There are various types of congestion, and it all starts with the environment. The condition of the day, in general, causes this type of congestion. For example, it has been discovered that traffic congestion caused by weather, such as rain, which is the most common condition in Malaysia, that stops drivers in their vehicles, has an uncontrollable effect on not only traffic but also road conditions. Even light rain can have an effect if all drivers slow down at the same time.

Regarding the second type of congestion which is mechanical. This implies that any mechanical faults are caused by external influences, such as traffic lights failing due to a mechanical issue. As a result, the route may get quite congested with drivers driving without halting since they are unsure of when and how to drive in it.

Humans are involved in the third type of congestion. This indicates that some drivers' actions on the road, such as distracted or drunk driving, drowsy driving or emotional driving, may produce congestion. For instance, there are numerous risky situations we might consider, such as when people suddenly stop for a break and driver slams on the brakes as a result of being distracted. Depending on other traffic factors, just one error in braking could cause hours-long delays in that lane and nearby lanes.

Infrastructure is the final type of congestion. Infrastructure is a different category that may also be argued to be caused by humans. Infrastructure is the unseen troll that compounds traffic issues in many urban and suburban regions, from slowdown-causing potholes to bottlenecks in locations that have outgrown their roadways.

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Let's start with the rising number of cars in Malaysia, which may result in an increase in the number of vehicles on the road. This is just one of many reasons that might contribute to traffic congestion. According to CEIC DATA, the number of registered vehicles in Malaysia was estimated to be 17,728,482 units in December 2021, up from the previous estimate of 17,486,589 units for December 2020. As of June 2022, it was estimated that there were 33.3 million registered vehicles in Malaysia, an increase of a million units per year since 2021. It was claimed that the number had surpassed the nation's 32.6 million-person population. Another Lim cited the cited number as one of the explanations for why traffic congestion has gotten worse recently.

Following that, any problems on the road, such as accidents, road maintenance or construction work, and any maintenance issue, can cause it. Let's start with accidents. Accidents happen when people are hit by certain conditions such as bad weather, exceeding the speed limit, or driving while intoxicated. This may result in an accident as people begin to lose control of their vehicles; as a result, the road may slow as usual, and people may use only one lane. Construction work is another factor that influences traffic flow. While being stuck in a construction zone is inconvenient, interstate maintenance helps to alleviate traffic congestion in the long run. Installing traffic lights, creating one-way streets, and adding more lanes to the highway are all examples of construction types that can improve traffic flow.

Last but not least, the road condition itself may cause congestion. Looking at the current road conditions, most of them are still in the old notch. Vehicles struggle to move due to potholed and crooked road conditions. This issue will likely lead to prolonged traffic congestion. Furthermore, as urban living standards improve, there are frequent road repair works, water pipes, and electric cables on major roads. As a result, roads are frequently dug up and buried here and there. During the repair, the flow of vehicles will be too slow, especially during peak hours; this situation will also cause traffic congestion along the involved road.

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First of all, it might make people anxious. This is being said while we are hurrying to go to appointments, work, or catch flights, traffic congestion produces unforeseen delays that stress us out. Even worse, traffic jams reduce our private time and prevent us from spending quality time with our families, which throws off the harmony between our personal and professional lives.

Second, in terms of the environment, a long line of slow-moving cars on the road wastes more fuel. Global temperature increases when more carbon is emitted into the atmosphere. We would be breathing air that is of lower quality in a city. In this way, transportation congestion contributes to both poor health and climate change.

Thirdly, a traffic delay makes emergency situations worse because the ambulance, fire truck, and police car are unable to arrive at the scene in time. In a crisis, every second matters. In an emergency, one second can often mean the difference between life and death.

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A fantastic strategy to lessen the number of vehicles on the road is to carpool or share your vehicle with people who are going in the same direction. By splitting the cost with your partners, you are able to save cash and fuel. It is frequently linked to a variety of societal advantages, including decreases in energy use and emissions, the alleviation of traffic, and a decreased need for parking facilities.

The use of the available public transit is another technique to help reduce congestion. One of the best methods to cut emissions and protect the environment is to use public transportation more frequently than one's own vehicle.

Finally, to promote the usage of public transit, the government should upgrade the infrastructure. For instance, creating protected bike lanes with as much distance as feasible from busy roads and, when possible, from pedestrians, would improve riding facilities. They can then increase their Strategic Road Network resilience after that. The advantages of junction investment should be evaluated in terms of reducing travel times and delays on the strategic road network as well as minimising congestion and delays that spill over onto the local road network.

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Slow-moving traffic on several major highways

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Slow-moving traffic on several major highways

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Traffic began to swell from Nilai Utara to the Seremban Rest and Recreation (RnR) region, according to a spokeswoman for the Malaysian Highway Authority. Due to the fact that Keluarga Malaysia has access to free tolls and discounts today, more traffic is predicted.

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1. Home

KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic is reported to have picked up on several highways and main roads to the north, south and east coast of the peninsula this morning as more people return to their hometown to celebrate Aidilfitri.

The expected increase in traffic volume today is due to the provision of free tolls and discounts to Keluarga Malaysia in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob last Monday.

A spokesman of the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) said traffic started to build up from Nilai Utara to the Seremban Rest and Recreation (RnR) area and there was a traffic crawl stretching for almost three kilometres (km) from Senai Utara to Kulai.

Meanwhile, LLM via its Twitter account reported that as at 9.30am, roads heading to the Gombak Toll Plaza from Greenwood as well as the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE) and the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) (MRR2) were seeing congestion, with a traffic jam stretching for 33km.

In the north, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) reported slow-moving traffic on several stretches of the North-South Expressway, namely before entering the Rawang Selatan Toll Plaza, from Sungai Buloh heading towards Sungai Buaya, Ipoh Selatan to Ipoh Utara and the Menora Tunnel to Sungai Perak.

The latest traffic information is available on the toll-free Plusline 1800-88-0000 and Twitter at www.twitter.com/plustrafik, or LLM line at 1800-887752 or Twitter at www.twitter.com/LLMinfotrafik.-Bernama

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Slow-moving traffic on several major highways this morning

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KUALA LUMPUR: Traffic is reported to have picked up on several highways and main roads to the north, south and east coast of the peninsula this mornin...

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Traffic Congestion is a major problem for Malaysia, and IoT is the solution 

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Traffic Congestion is a major problem for Malaysia, and IoT is the solution 

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Malaysia and Telekom Malaysia have teamed up to create a traffic monitoring technology. Its name is STARS, and it manages traffic lights by using edge computing and the internet of things (IoT). It claims to have cut the amount of time people wait in traffic in Cyberjaya by 65%. Over 130 crossroads in four Malaysian municipalities are now being monitored by the Telekom Malaysia solution. The business thinks that eventually 1,800 crossroads across the country may use the solution. It will investigate ways to use predictive analytics in the future to take weather, events, and holidays into account.

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Smarter networks and IoT can help solve traffic congestion. Source: Shutterstock

PRACTICAL technology solutions delight everyone, and when it promises to ease traffic congestion, it helps regulators, businesses, and the public breathe a sigh of relief.

Traffic congestion is part and parcel of living in cities such as Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and even Singapore. It’s something citizens have accepted (sadly), and despite the best efforts of regulators, is a hard problem to solve.

One of the reasons that Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan in Borneo is because of the traffic congestion problem in the city and the resulting impact on the environment.

Malaysia, whose capital Kuala Lumpur has been working with Alibaba in the past to create an artificial intelligence-based solution, has also partnered with local telecommunications giant Telekom Malaysia (TM) to develop a smart traffic monitoring solution.

Dubbed Smart Traffic Analytics & Recognition System (STARS), the solution comprises of traffic-lights that respond to real-time data collected by cameras and sensors.

Breaking the solution down into its basic components, STARS leverages the internet of things (IoT) and edge computing in the cameras and sensors to transmit data to the cloud, which then runs complex yet intelligent simulations to control the traffic lights — creating a closed-loop, end-to-end managed IoT system.

STARS has been trialed in parts of the country since 2016, and recently, in a case study published by GSMA, claims to have proved its effectiveness to the government by reducing traffic waiting time along Persiaran Multimedia (a main road in Cyberjaya — a town in Malaysia) by more than 65 percent.

At peak hours, it would take approximately 32 minutes to drive from one end of Persiaran Multimedia to the other, but it now takes between eight and 11 minutes.

The solution obviously delights drivers who are able to get from one point to another more quickly, and helps local councils a great deal because it not only boosts satisfaction among the public but also helps meet sustainability goals by reducing traffic congestion-related emissions.

Further, regulators and municipal organizations facilitating the implementation benefit from a reduction in overall operational costs, and support for future traffic optimization and town planning projects.

First launched in 2016, the solution from Telekom Malaysia is now monitoring more than 130 junctions across four municipalities in Cyberjaya (Cyberview), Kelantan (Jabatan Kerja Raya Kelantan), Pengerang (Johor Corporation) and Penang (Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai).

The company believes the solution could ultimately be deployed to approximately 1,800 junctions nationwide across Malaysia.

Telekom Malaysia also told GSMA that despite the success in its first round, the company will explore how it can leverage predictive analytics in the future to factor in weather, events and holidays, and up to six months of historical data, to better predict routes that help avoid traffic congestion.

Given the Malaysian government’s intention to stay ahead in the technology era, and the various initiatives it has launched thus far, support for and further interest in Telekom Malaysia’s project comes as no surprise.

In the future, Malaysia and other countries in Asia will definitely benefit from deploying IoT-powered solutions in conjunction with other technologies such as edge and cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, to reduce traffic congestion and make mobility more efficient.

Soumik Roy | @soumikroy

Soumik Roy is a business and technology specialist. He helps small and medium enterprise owners understand what's most important to their company's growth and success.

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Traffic congestion is a major problem for Malaysia, and IoT is the solution

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Traffic congestion is bad for business and productivity and shows a city or country in bad light — but it seems as though IoT has a solution.

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This morning's traffic on a number of significant highways and roads is reportedly delayed and backed up. In order to commemorate Aidilfitri, drivers are travelling to their hometowns and villages. On the northbound section between Sungai Buloh Hospital and Bukit Beruntung, traffic congestion was reportedly present.

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Malaysian Highway Authority reports slow traffic, congestion on major highways, roads

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 ― Traffic on several major highways and roads was reported to be slow and congested this morning as city folk continue to head to their villages and...

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The TomTom Traffic Index estimates that KLites lose the equivalent of 48 hours annually due to traffic jams. The situation has grown so terrible that Malaysia has been ranked as the eighth-most dangerous country in the world to drive in by the worldwide driver education business Zutobi.

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Welcome to Malaysia: where the roads are terrible and the traffic jams never end. | Source

Confession time: I've never actually watched any of the Fast and Furious movies.

There are many reasons - not wanting to visit the cinema alone, lack of free time and/or money, the fact that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson honestly isn't that good at acting (and don't even bother trying to argue, you all know I'm right).

Anyway, the point is that the only things I know about these movies come from memes. My personal favourite is that one where they split up and drive into two separate roads. You know, that one scene with the "See You Again Song" that was playing everywhere a while back?

Why? Because every time I get stuck in traffic, I wish I could just drive away from everyone so easily.

"Nothing is stronger than family... except traffic jams."

Alright, now that I've got that casual movie fan blasphemy out of the way, we can get to the real point of this article: traffic jams.

For many of us, traffic jams are just another regular and unfortunate part of life. You know, like period pains, only gender neutral and happening every single day rather than once a month.

If you've ever driven in Malaysia, you will know the pain of going out for what should have been a quick five minute drive, only to end up being stuck in traffic for over an hour. Of being surrounded by a million other sad, pathetic people who currently hate you just as much as you hate them. Of having to keep slowing down because some absolute twit in an oversized SUV suddenly cuts you off because he decided that he absolutely has to change lanes right now -

In any case, Malaysian traffic - and Klang Valley traffic in particular - has been receiving a lot of attention lately. Even after the Raya rush has ended, Malaysian drivers are complaining about how the traffic jams feel worse than ever before.

And You Know What? They're Right

It's not just your imagination. KL traffic has quite literally gotten worse compared to pre-pandemic times.

On 20 May 2022, a Malaysiakini report found that one of the reasons why KL traffic has gotten worse (as much as 74% worse!) in 2022 was because more workers have returned to the office.

According to the TomTom Traffic Index, KLites have lost the equivalent of 48 hours a year due to traffic congestion. Things have gotten so bad that international driver education company Zutobi has rated Malaysia as the eighth most dangerous country in the world to drive in.

Ironically enough, we're also the country with the lowest amount of alcohol-related road traffic deaths (0.1%), which means that our drivers are just naturally terrible even without any alcohol involved.

And it's not just KL either. On 27 May 2022, Former Transport Minister Anthony Loke called on the government to find a solution for Malaysia's traffic woes by describing his own experiences during a recent trip to Seremban.

"It took me two hours to drive back to Seremban when it was only a 60km journey," he said. "What is happening? The government needs to get to the bottom of this. Malaysians cannot wait anymore."

Why Has Our Traffic Gotten So Bad Recently?

Although we still had jams a few years back, it was still possible to avoid as long as you refrained from driving during peak hours.

Now, however, it feels like the jam is going to be there no matter what.

Time? Weather? Road conditions? None of that matters. The traffic jam is inevitable. I once stayed in the office until 8pm and still got stuck in a jam when I finally tried to go home.

Factor #1: More People On The Road

According to Road Safety Expert Rozmi Ismail, one of the big factors behind these jams is the greater freedom of movement that we're all enjoying as the COVID-19 pandemic slowly fades away.

Simply put, as more people become comfortable with going out, more cars will be driving on our roads. After the relative peace and quiet of the past few years, this sudden surge has caught many Malaysian drivers by surprise.

"It's a continuation of the congestion that occurred during the recent Hari Raya period," said Rozmi. "As a result, traffic jams are occurring almost every day, including weekdays, irrespective of whether it's rush hour or not."

Factor #2: Rain Rain Go Away

Every time I see rain pouring down nowadays, I immediately think "Oh no, we're going to get flooded again." Source from Malay Mail

Over the past few months, KL has been flooded so many times that it's actually starting to get ridiculous.

Despite billions of ringgit being spent on anti-flood measures like the SMART tunnels, KLites have grown to fear the sound of thunder because they know that it's going to lead to big traffic jams later.

"Enough is enough," said DAP MP Lim Lip Eng in a public statement demanding heads to roll for the city's frequent flooding.

"Every time there is a downpour for not even half an hour, Kuala Lumpur residents are not spared massive floods. Their cars will have to go through major repairs... In each flood incident, losses to properties cost millions of ringgit."

Factor #3: Public Transport? How About Public Will-Not?

Over the years, our government has invested billions of ringgit into our public transport systems. Yet, a 2020 study found that only 20% of Klang Valley residents use public transport - far below the government's target of 40%.

"The problem with public transportation [in Klang Valley] is that it's not convenient," said TRANSIT Malaysia Member Fazley Fadzil during an interview with VICE World News.

"You go out of your house, you look out, and you see the MRT station is across a six-lane highway. Before you even get to the highway, you have to go through unpaved sidewalks, cross multiple routes, and climb the stairs to get to the station itself."

As a result of this inconvenience, many Malaysians are forced to rely on cars - either their own private vehicles or Grab e-hailing - just to get to the station. This is not only annoying, but also kind of defeats the point of having public transport in the first place!

What Can We Do To Avoid Traffic Jams?

If you're sick and tired of being stuck in traffic jams, here are a few simple things that you can do to avoid the experience.

1. Work From Home

To put it simply, you can't get stuck in a traffic jam if you never leave your house in the first place. One of the reasons why there's so many traffic jams nowadays is the fact that so many employers are demanding that their workers return to office. If you can, try to convince your boss to let you stick to working from home instead.

2. Find Alternate Routes

Another big cause of traffic jams is that too many cars are trying to travel down the same road at once. You can bypass this problem by planning out alternative routes towards your destination. Even if it'd take a little longer, surely it's got to be better than being stuck in a jam, right?

3. Public Transport

I know, I know. We've just talked about how bad Malaysia's public transport is. But despite all its problems, it can still be a viable option for those who dislike having to drive around all day. If your destination is within walking distance of a bus stop or an LRT station, it might be better to just suck it up and get to walking instead of letting yourself get stuck in the jam.

4. Carpooling

Alternatively, you can try carpooling instead. While this won't help you directly, reducing the number of cars on the road is bound to make a difference in the long run. There are even apps like Ryde which are meant to help match drivers with commuters heading in the same direction. It's kind of like Grab, but you get to decide the destination rather than the passenger.

Will Our Traffic Jams Ever End?

Over the past few weeks, our government has proposed several new projects and ideas to help reduce our traffic jam problem.

On 23 May 2022, Works Minister Fadillah Yusof announced that he had approved of several proposals to construct new highways across the Klang Valley, with several other proposals still under consideration.

"With these new highways, we hope the connectivity within the Klang Valley and with the rest of the country will improve," he said.

Unfortunately, even if they started construction today, any new highways would still take years to finish. For the time being, Malaysian drivers must remember to drive safely and responsibly in order to ensure that our roads can remain as safe and hassle-free as possible.

To learn more about how much bad drivers can affect everyone else on the road, check out:

Do Speed Limits Even Work in Malaysia?

Why are driving accidents so common in Malaysia? | Source

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Not Fast, Very Furious: Why is KL So Jammed?

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Confession time: I've never actually watched any of the Fast and Furious movies. There are many reasons - not wanting to visit the cinema alone, lack of free time and/or money, the fact that Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson honestly isn't that good at acting (and don't even bother trying to argue, you all know I'm right).

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The Real Facts of Traffic Jam in Kuala Lumpur

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The Real Facts of Traffic Jam in Kuala Lumpur

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The majority of the effects of traffic congestion are felt everyday by the people of Kuala Lumpur. Parking problems are a problematic problem that has been made worse by ineffective public transportation options. It was formerly a little, green town, but has now succumbed to fast population growth.

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The urban transportation of Malaysia is moving at a quick pace in an attempt to meet the needs of the growing economy and population, but it simply cannot keep up with the ever-increasing demands of the citizens. The inefficiency in public transport services has added to the troubling issue of traffic congestion and parking issues in Kuala Lumpur.

The cultural hub of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur is no guest to the effects of globalization. In recent years, it has witnessed rapid growth and urbanization. Once a quaint town with tin quarries and abundance of greenery, it has now fallen prey to rapid population growth. It has grown accustomed to the woes of rapid motorization as well, thus becoming one of the busiest cities in Southeast Asia.

The citizens of Kuala Lumpur are dealing with the brunt of traffic congestion in their daily lives. Just like any other country, the people of Kuala Lumpur too, prefer traveling in their own cars owing to the accompanying ease and convenience. This has led to a tremendous increase in the ownership of private cars.

Traffic issues

A study conducted by BCG revealed that the people of Kuala Lumpur spend 53 minutes on average in heavy traffic jams every day. Becoming the fifth most traffic-congested place in all of southeast Asia, KLites spend a massive total of 13.4 days in traffic per year. This is not inclusive of the actual traveling time.

The desire for owning a car has increased tremendously. The study also revealed that a total of 83% of respondents wished for a private vehicle within the next five years. However, the respondents stated that their main priority was convenience and being on time. They were not opposed to carpooling or other common modes of transportation as long as these services met their needs. This marks the need to establish efficient public transportation services.

Also Read: IoT solution for Parking Problem in Malaysia

Parking Issues in Kuala Lumpur

Findings from research conducted by Uber Malaysia reveal that every KL car owner spends 152 hours per year in search of a parking spot. This displays the grim truth of how rapid urbanization and overpopulation have taken a severe toll on the citizens of KL. Findings show families having cars in excess of its members. This trend has been on the rise, adding to the woes of congested roads and insufficient parking space.

The research further stated that by 2022, the peak congestion in Kuala Lumpur will likely be 4.5 times worse than its current state. This truly is a horrifying statement for all of the citizens. With the number of cars increasing, Uber Malaysia declared that there is a need for space 9 times as big as that of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). The KLCC is approximately a 100-acre plot and the need for a 900-acre space merely for parking must open our eyes to the grizzly truth of parking issues in Kuala Lumpur.

The above statistics show us the number of cars that need to be accommodated, which is truly chilling. One cannot even imagine the setback that KL will go through during times of rain or in the event of a small accident. People staying at greater KL are forced to wake up by 6 am just to beat the traffic and get to their offices. If they don't follow this routine, they may end up wasting work hours stuck in traffic. This has even lead to the wastage of their precious time while commuting back from office to their homes, which could be utilized in spending time with their loved ones.

Implementing solutions

In an attempt to curb these issues, the government has set up a structured plan that should be in place by 2020. It is based on building an efficient and equitable city structure that allows its citizens' equal access to all areas. It has worked on issues like the insufficiency of public transport modal share and meeting the travel demands of the inhabitants. It even discusses methods to implement better traffic management and provide efficiency in public transports.

It further goes on to address car parking related problems and the need for better road infrastructure. Apart from this, some startups have come up with smart parking in KL to make the lives of the people easier. It helps them access real-time information about the availability of parking spaces around their destination. This helps save valuable time spent circling around in a desperate attempt to find a parking space.

All things considered, KL has taken a major hit from the effects of urbanization. Implementing smart parking solutions will pave the way for creating a sustainable, liveable city.

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The Real Facts Of Traffic Jam and Parking Issues In Kuala Lumpur - Get My Parking Blog

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The urban transportation of Malaysia is moving at a quick pace in an attempt to meet the needs of the growing economy and population, but it simply cannot keep up with the ever-increasing demands of the citizens. The inefficiency in public transport services has added to the troubling issue of traffic congestion and parking issues in Kuala Lumpur.

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Using information gathered by TomTom navigation systems, car in-dash systems, and mobile apps, the TomTom Traffic Index tracks traffic congestion in more than 400 cities across the world. "Previously, we only experienced traffic congestion during peak hours, but now, even during off-peak hours, there is traffic congestion, for example, at 3pm," he claimed.

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Gov’t needs to address worsening traffic congestion issue now, not wait for studies to be done - Loke - paultan.org

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We don’t know if you’ve noticed, but traffic in the Klang Valley seems to have gotten much worse in the past few weeks, notably after the Hari Raya period. More jams seem to be occurring …

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Causes and Solutions of Traffic Congestion in Malaysia

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Causes and Solutions of Traffic Congestion in Malaysia

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In the long run, it is not practicable to argue that people should relocate to the suburbs or the country in order to avoid traffic congestion. The government must establish a plan and funding to modernize the city's planning, design, and road infrastructure. Traffic flow can be aided by SMART technology, which also offers real-time route management.

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Finger-tapping, sighing, honking, braking every second and risking one's life by speeding carelessly when opportunity strikes is one of the many symptoms when you are stuck in traffic congestion. This restlessness is the reality of what Malaysians had to go through in their daily life especially those who are living in the concrete urban jungle like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Ipoh, Shah Alam, Klang and other busy cities. In this 21carbon dioxide emission can cause air pollutions especially when people stuck in traffic jams (Dias st century, traffic congestion has become global issue in many developing nations in the world and it negatively affect the people and the country itself especially it terms of efficiency and productivity. In addition, traffic congestion also badly contributes to air pollution as well due to the large emission of carbon monoxide from every vehicle in the city. As matter of fact, et al., 2017; Das et al., 2013; Shamsuddin et al., 2014). Hence, there are arguments on whether people should relocate themselves to the suburbs or countryside to overcome the issue of traffic congestion. However, migrating people to the suburbs or countryside would be counterproductive because these people will still travel in and out of a city and consequently it will lead to heavy flow of traffic primarily during the rush hour period. Therefore, to overcome traffic congestion in the city, government and the people must be able to work hand in hand to solve this issue. The importance of minimizing traffic congestion would be beneficial socially and economically to Malaysia.

There are many reasons for traffic jams to occur in Malaysia such increasing the number of vehicles every year, overpopulation in urban areas, increasing the number of poor traffic signal systems in certain areas, no systematic public transportations, obsolete technology, and narrow roads ( Chu & Nguyen, 2017). Malaysians are refusing to use public transportation as poor customer service by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM), Light Rail Transit (LRT), public transportations, poor safety and security ( Brohi, 2018; Suria, 2012; Soh, Wong, Chong & Hiew, 2014), lanes are close due to utility work, roads are narrowing down, as well as accidents (Mandlik,2020). It is should be noted that the Public Transport System (PTS) in Malaysia is not advanced like other countries (Brohi, 2018). Therefore, one of the way to tackle traffic congestion is to enhance the effectiveness of public transportation. Such as the on-going program that the government had implemented is the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) 2.0 where all public transportations will be fully utilized and optimized including Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) , Light Rail Transit (LRT), and other public transportations (Brohi, 2018). This program will be beneficial for the public to commute in many places around the city and will be available for them at convenient time. For the government to encourage the public in fully utilizing public transportation as much as possible, government can introduce public transportation monthly pass and special discounted rate pass for group of students, the elderly and the disable. As example the MY30 monthly RapidKL pass that gives unlimited ride to public Rapidkl buses and all subway train like MRT, LRT, KTM and Monorail (Bernama, 2020). Another example is free public bus ride like it was implemented in Penang, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur. Thus, it is crucial for a public transportation to be reliable especially in punctuality at the very least. This is important especially to the working class since they need to clock in at their workplace before their schedule begin. Other than that, the use of taxis and another e-hailing vehicle should also be utilize fully by introducing attractive and affordable price range for public. Many people prefer to drive their own private vehicle is because the lack of quality service in public transportation, therefore there is an urge to upgrade the quality of our public transportation so more public would resort to public transportation and eventually this will help to mitigate traffic congestion.

The complication with traffic congestion is, road users cannot avoid the inevitable hassle. Especially when the situation involves highly populated and modern city. Traffic congestion is part and parcel of developing nations and its cities where the transaction of demand and supply constantly flowing within and inside big cities. This can be seen like in New York, Beijing, Jakarta, Beijing, Bangkok and so on. Hence, even traffic congestion cannot be avoided, at the very least we can reduce the problem by anticipating the occurrence and pattern of heavy traffic on the road. By anticipating the incoming traffic congestion, we can understand the flow of traffic methodically and find a way to manage the incoming heavy flow of traffic efficiently. The solution to combat traffic congestion is utilizing the use of technology to monitor the flow of traffic, anticipate traffic jammed, and regulate the traffic accordingly by re-routing the road network, and informing authorities and road users of the approaching traffic. As example the use of technology is optimizing traffic signal timing by extending or delaying the traffic control ( Tan et. al., 2016) and this can be implemented by traffic pre-timed control as well as historical traffic adaptive control (Araghi, Khosravi, & Creighton, 2015) . Another real-life precedent to reduce traffic congestion is using Artificial Intelligence (A.I) by deploying Smart Traffic Analytics & Recognition System (STARS). STARS has the solution consist of traffic-lights that respond to real-time data collected by traffic cameras and sensors. Likewise, STARS leverages the internet of things (IoT) and edge computing in the cameras and sensors to transmit data to the cloud, which then runs complex yet intelligent simulations to control the traffic lights - creating a closed-loop, end-to-end managed IoT system. Besides, STARS has been tested in parts of the country since 2016, and recently, in a case study published by GSMA, claims to have proved its effectiveness to the government by reducing traffic waiting time along Persiaran Multimedia (a main road in Cyberjaya - a town in Malaysia) by more than 65 percent. At peak hours, it would take approximately 32 minutes to drive from one end of Persiaran Multimedia to the other, but it now takes between eight and 11 minutes (TechwireAsia, 2019). The solution obviously delights drivers who are able to get from one point to another more quickly and helps local councils a great deal because it not only boosts satisfaction among the public but also helps meet sustainability goals by reducing traffic congestion-related emissions. Further, regulators and municipal organizations facilitating the implementation benefit from a reduction in overall operational costs, and support for future traffic optimization and town planning projects. First launched in 2016, the solution from Telekom Malaysia is now monitoring more than 130 junctions across four municipalities in Cyberjaya (Cyberview), Kelantan (Jabatan Kerja Raya Kelantan), Pengerang (Johor Corporation) and Penang (Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai). The company believes the solution could ultimately be deployed to approximately 1,800 junctions nationwide across Malaysia. Telekom Malaysia also told GSMA that despite the success in its first round, the company will explore how it can leverage predictive analytics in the future to factor in weather, events and holidays, and up to six months of historical data, to better predict routes that help avoid traffic congestion. Therefore, with this SMART system utilize it can assist in analysing the flow of traffic and find ways to redirect the traffic to lesser congested route and warn other road users about the traffic congestion. The gathered analysed data can be advantageous for mapping out and pre-plan to build better road infrastructures, urban planning and urban design that aimed to mitigate traffic congestion.

To summarize, the debate on whether people should move to suburbs or countryside to avoid traffic congestion is not practical in the long run. Alternatively, it is better to tackle the issue of traffic congestion systematically and holistically to improve the nation in terms of economically and socially, which is first by enhancing public transportation so it can be good choice for road users or people living in the city to beat heavy traffic. Secondly, government must allocate plan and budget to upgrade road infrastructures, urban planning and design to be more convenient and practical for road users and people living in the city. Thirdly, government can fully implement SMART technology that can assist the flow of traffic and provide real time route management. Lastly, applying Car Free Day policy to most affected area that is prone and susceptible to traffic congestion. [ 2933 words]
REFERENCES:
Abas, Dr Mohd Azman. "We Must Inculcate Ideal Driving Behaviour through Policies, Education: New Straits Times." NST Online, New Straits Times, 20 Nov. 2020, www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2020/11/642999/we-must-inculcate-ideal-driving-behaviour-through-policies.

Saxena, A. K. (2009). Greenhouse gas emissions: Estimation and reduction. Asian Productivity Organization.

Soumik Roy | 18 September, 2019. "Traffic Congestion Is a Major Problem for Malaysia, and IoT Is the Solution." Tech Wire Asia, 30 Sept. 2019, techwireasia.com/2019/10/traffic-congestion-is-a-major-problem-for-malaysia-and-iot-is-the-solution/.

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TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN MALAYSIA: REALITY, CAUSES, AND SOLUTIONS ( OUMH1203 ENGLISH FOR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION)

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Finger-tapping, sighing, honking, braking every second and risking one's life by speeding carelessly when opportunity strikes is one of the many symptoms when you are stuck in traffic congestion.

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According to a planning expert, the recent dramatic increase in the number of vehicles on the roads in the federal capital may lead to the development of a "urban heat island" effect, where temperatures in the city are warmer than in the suburbs.

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Malaysia ranked as 4th worst traffic problems

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Malaysia ranked as 4th worst traffic problems

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With 169.14 points, Malaysia is ranked fourth. Research from 2015 shows that working-class Malaysians squander about 1 million hours every day in traffic jams. This lost time equates to RM 10 to RM 20 billion in annual traffic congestion costs.

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As drivers, we've all complained about the traffic jam in the big city before. But as much as we like to complain about the traffic situation in Malaysia, it really is not as bad as our neighbouring countries and this Traffic Index by City 2020 Mid-Year by Numbeo proves that out of the ASEAN countries, Malaysia's traffic congestion situation ranks fourth!

The report covered 81 different countries and focusses on the average time spent in traffic, the amount of carbon dioxide consumed in traffic, as well as the inefficiencies in the traffic system.

States according to Numbeo

Amongst the ASEAN countries, the Philippines is ranked at the top of the charts for having the worst traffic in the region. The Philippines scored 198.84 points in the Traffic Index while Indonesia trails closely behind with 194.61 points.

Thailand follows Indonesia with 170.6 points putting the country in third on the Traffic Index chart. Malaysia is ranked fourth with 169.14 points followed by Singapore at 148.61 and Vietnam with 111.12.

According to the report, Kuala Lumpur has an average Time Index of 41.99 minutes compared to our neighbouring countries like the Philippines which has a Time Index rating of 56.09, Indonesia with 53.10, and Thailand with 45.00.

In terms of the global chart, Malaysia ranks 43rd, right behind Shanghai, China (199.44) and Buenos Aires, Argentina (196.61). Meanwhile, Philippines ranks 11th on the chart behind Kolkata, India (275.97) and San Francisco, USA (273.83).

If you're curious who came out on top of the charts, it is Lagos, Nigeria. The country is rated 348.01 points and has a time index of 67.39 minutes. That is close to double of Malaysia's traffic index reading!

Numbeo is the world's largest cost of living database. The website is also a crowd-sourced global database for information on the quality of life including housing indicators, perceived crime rates, and quality of healthcare, among many other statistics.

Back in 2015, a research discovers that working-class Malaysians spends about 1 million wasted hours annually stuck in traffic congestions per day. This time wasted translates to RM 10 - 20 billion annually on traffic congestion.

So, we can complain all we want, but remember that there are worst conditions in other countries.

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Malaysia has the 4th worst traffic jam condition in SEA with second highest CO2 emission levels | WapCar

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As drivers, we've all complained about the traffic jam in the big city before. But as much as we like to complain about the traffic situation in Malaysia, it really is not as bad as our neighbouring countries and this Traffic Index by City 2020 Mid-Year by Numbeo proves that out of the ASEAN countries, Malaysia's traffic congestion situation ranks fourth!

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According to an Index Data analysis, Kuala Lumpur's peak-hour traffic congestion during the last week was worse than it was even in 2019. As the nation works to move into the endemic phase of Covid-19, road safety expert Rozmi Ismail blamed the traffic bottlenecks on the increased freedom of movement. According to transportation expert Rozmi Law, bicycles and electric scooters could diminish the use of private vehicles in Malaysia's cities. However, because Malaysia's traffic conditions are substantially different from those in other industrialised nations, he advises against completely removing regulations like those put in place in such nations.

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For weeks, road users in the Klang Valley have had one common complaint: the steady build-up of traffic regardless of time, weather or road conditions.

Throughout the capital city alone, the congestion once associated with workers leaving the office appears to have spread to all hours of the day, leaving drivers caught in a gridlock despite the most careful of plans.

A recent Index Data report shows that traffic jams during peak hours in Kuala Lumpur throughout the last week were worse than they were even in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The question for many now is why this is happening, and what can be done about it.

Road safety expert Rozmi Ismail attributed the jams to the greater freedom of movement allowed as the country seeks to transition to the endemic phase of Covid-19.

"It's a continuation of the congestion that occurred during the recent Hari Raya period," Rozmi, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, told MalaysiaNow.

"As a result, traffic jams are occurring almost every day, including week days, irrespective of whether it's rush hour or not."

Works Minister Fadillah Yusof previously said that the government would build three new highways to reduce traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur: the Petaling Jaya Traffic Dispersal Elevated Highway, Putrajaya-Bangi Expressway and Kuala Lumpur Northern Dispersal Expressway.

But Rozmi said the construction of these roads would take a long time, and would not match the pace of Malaysia's growth in private vehicle ownership.

As of 2019, the transport ministry had registered some 31.2 million vehicles including commercial vehicles and motorcycles.

This was an increase of 3.02 million from the figures in 2018, when about 28.8 million vehicles were registered, and in line with the trend of growth in vehicle registrations since 2010.

Fellow road safety expert Law Teik Hua said that in keeping with the trend around the world, public transportation in Malaysia is still unpopular and considered by many as unsafe.

"Two-wheelers or small cars might be the preferred mode of transport as the economy opens up and the need for mobility increases," Law, the director of Universiti Putra Malaysia's Road Safety Research Centre, told MalaysiaNow.

"This in turn could be a reason for the current surge in traffic on the roads."

Law added that public transportation providers have yet to "do enough" to restore trust in their services.

"To restore trust in public transportation systems following Covid-19 is the top responsibility of operators," he said.

Rozmi agreed that public transportation could use a boost, adding that this could reduce the use of private vehicles.

He said the increase in the number of vehicles not only worsens congestion but also increases the rate at which accidents occur.

Adding to the volume of vehicles on the road are those in the micromobility category such as bicycles and electric scooters which have been gaining in popularity.

Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong recently said that guidelines for road use for vehicles in this grouping would be announced in time to come.

Law said the use of micromobility vehicles could help reduce traffic congestion in cities.

"The goal of micromobility is to address several urban issues at once," he said.

"Incentivising individuals to use micromobility devices rather than automobiles could help alleviate traffic congestion. Having more micromobility devices on the road, especially for short-term excursions, would reduce the need for individuals to drive."

Nevertheless, he cautioned against the wholesale lifting of the policies implemented in other countries, saying Malaysia's traffic conditions and cultures are very different, especially in terms of road safety.

"To maintain public safety, the usage of micromobility modes must be properly planned and implemented in an effective manner," he said.

"For example, having a designated area in the city centre for micromobility, including bicycles and pedestrians, should be considered.

Then, there is the debate on Malaysia's urban landscape which has long prioritised road vehicles over those on foot.

In some developed countries, highways have been replaced with parks and other public spaces.

But Rozmi is sceptical about how far such ideas can go in Malaysia, at least for now.

"I don't see when we will achieve developed nation status," he said.

"There have been no major changes in public transportation. Even high-speed trains are limited to certain states only."

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Unravelling the Klang Valley's traffic woes

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For weeks, road users in the Klang Valley have had one common complaint: the steady build-up of traffic regardless of time, weather or road conditions. Throughout the capital city alone, the congestion once associated with workers leaving the office appears to have spread to all hours of the day, leaving drivers caught in a gridlock despite the most careful of plans.

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Video: Tribble Traffic Jam in Kuala Lumpur 

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Video: Tribble Traffic Jam in Kuala Lumpur 

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【VLOG 5】Terrible Traffic jam outside my office | Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Recording of Traffic Congestion in Malaysia

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Recording of Traffic Congestion in Malaysia

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This video shows a recording of the events

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Malaysians Driver during Traffic Congestion

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In Kuala Lumpur, there was a discernible decline in congestion levels in 2021. According to the data, the daily average travel time shrank by 4 minutes.

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WEEKLY TRAFFIC CONGESTION BY TIME OF DAY

What time was rush hour in Kuala Lumpur?

Best time to avoid

What day of the week had the worst rush hour?

CHANGES IN WORKING DAYS TRAVEL PATTERNS IN 2019-2021

What did the traffic on an average working day look like each month across the years?

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Kuala Lumpur traffic report | TomTom Traffic Index

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WEEKLY TRAFFIC CONGESTION BY TIME OF DAY What time was rush hour in Kuala Lumpur? Best time to avoid What day of the week had the worst rush hour? CHANGES IN WORKING DAYS TRAVEL PATTERNS IN 2019-2021 What did the traffic on an average working day look like each month across the years?

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Video: Traffic Congestion in Kuala Lumpur worsens as economy reopens

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Video: Traffic Congestion in Kuala Lumpur worsens as economy reopens

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As the economy picks up and more people start going back to work, Kuala Lumpur's traffic jams are once again a problem. According to data, the situation is worse now than it was in Malaysia before the outbreak; there is gridlock in and around the capital.

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Traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur worsens as economy reopens, more return to office

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The population of Malaysia has increased quickly over time, and so too has the number of vehicles on the road. With the use of the LDP, a significant highway in Crown Valley, Selangor, you may go outside of residential areas and quickly access towns like Damansara. Toll booths are intended to collect money to relieve traffic congestion on highways, but it appears that they are making matters worse. One of the worst driving habits among Malaysians is the desire to cut the cue. Here in Malaysia, traffic congestion has been an ongoing issue.

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Traffic Congestion in Malaysia:  The Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) route.