KUALA LUMPUR – A total of twenty-five people died in road accidents on the first day of the Hari Raya exodus yesterday, while 2,185 accidents were recorded, police said.
The Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department released the figures for April 5 on Facebook this morning, a day after motorists took to the highways to return to their hometowns ahead of the Aidilfitri celebration next week – expected to be on April 10.
As of yesterday evening, traffic was slow-moving at several locations along main highways such as the North-South Expressway, the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and the East Coast Expressway 1.
Klang Valley residents had also decided to start their journeys early, and the Gombak toll plaza leaving Kuala Lumpur was already congested yesterday afternoon.
Late last night, a seven-vehicle accident on the North-South highway that involved a bus, resulted in the death of one man and several injured.
Ahead of the Raya exodus, Plus Malaysia Bhd said some 2.1 million vehicles per day are estimated to use the major north-south highway in the days preceding Hari Raya Aidilfitri and after, compared to the usual 1.82 million during normal peak hours. – April 6, 2024