Road Safety Activist Hails End To Toll Waivers

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The last time the government announced toll exemptions was in conjunction with the Christmas holiday.
PETALING JAYA: A former board member of an agency under the transport ministry has hailed the government’s decision to end toll waivers during festive seasons, saying such policies are counterproductive in reducing congestion.
In a statement, road safety activist Shahrim Tamrin said giving toll exemptions during festive seasons was akin to pouring kerosene on a fire in view of the heavy traffic expected during these periods.
He said the huge volume of road traffic on highways would subsequently spill over to artery and secondary roads and create traffic standstills in towns and rural areas.
“Toll waivers defeat transport sustainability and efficient traffic management, and contribute to dreadful road congestion on highways and federal or state roads,” Shahrim, who was a Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research board member for three years, said.
He said toll-free travel not only increased road congestion and resulted in higher fuel consumption but also led to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and outdoor air pollution.
According to research, road transport contributed to over 70% of air pollution in urban areas and was the second largest contributor to total carbon dioxide emissions in Malaysia at 21% in 2016, he said.
Works minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said yesterday that the government would no longer give toll exemptions for festive seasons and would replace these waivers with a “more targeted approach”.
He did not elaborate on the approach the government intends to take, but said it would be announced in the near future.
The last time the government announced toll exemptions was in conjunction with the Christmas holiday.
Shahrim said the decision to end toll waivers was “long overdue” as taxpayers’ money had been used to compensate highway concessionaires during toll-free days.
He said the money set aside for toll-free initiatives could have been utilised to encourage the lower income group to use land public transport modes.
It was reported that the government forked out RM80 million to provide toll exemptions for the festive seasons last year. - FMT

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