SUNGAI BULOH: Police will strictly enforce six major traffic offences during Op Selamat 25, targeting a five per cent reduction in road accidents and fatalities for the Chinese New Year period.
The targeted offences are speeding, dangerous overtaking, using mobile phones while driving, running red lights, misusing emergency lanes and driving while fatigued.
Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the operation, running from Feb 15 to Feb 20, comes as more than 2.8 million vehicles are expected to flood major highways.
“We expect a surge in traffic given the close timing of the Chinese New Year and the start of Ramadan. Our objective is to reduce road accidents and deaths by at least five per cent compared to the previous Op Selamat,” he said in a speech yesterday.
His remarks were read by Bukit Aman Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri at the launch of the operation at the Sungai Buloh Overhead Bridge Restaurant.
To manage the surge, PLUS Malaysia Berhad will activate 32 smart lanes at strategic locations — 19 in the central region, five in the north and eight in the south. Road users are advised to follow signage and green flashing lights before entering these lanes.
On crime prevention, the IGP said 6,543 personnel, 2,670 patrol vehicles and 1,800 motorcycles would be deployed to monitor homes left vacant during the festive break.
Patrols will operate 24 hours a day across 1,129 areas, focusing on 3,148 identified hotspots. Selangor recorded the highest number of hotspots with 764 areas, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 446.
Mohd Khalid urged those returning to their hometowns to report their movements via the Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) application or at the nearest police station to facilitate patrol planning.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd