The use of child restraint system (CRS) will be monitored by the authorities throughout the road safety operations in conjunction with Chinese New Year celebrations.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke (photo) said although no compound notices had been issued since the law came into effect on Jan 1, road users should be made aware of the importance of CRS.

"Monitoring will be carried out by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Road Safety Department (JKJR) as we want to raise awareness.

"The CRS policy will only be effective if road users have a sense of awareness," he said after opening the East Coast Highway (LPT 1) Road Safety and Chinese New Year Celebration at the West-bound Bentong R&R today.

Loke said enforcement of CRS use on private vehicles had to be taken to ensure the safety of infants and children due to alarming fatalities among children.

"A total of 1,559 deaths were recorded involving children under the age of 10 from 2007 to 2017. Support from the people and media is crucial in helping the government implement the CRS policy effectively," he said.

On another note, Loke said he welcomed the response of various parties to the public inspection of the East Coast Rail Link’s (ECRL) Klang-Mentakab alignment or Section C, which has been displayed since Jan 14 by Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, Anih Berhad executive director Nik Fauzi Nik Hussein expects consumers to refer to the suggested travel time advisory issued by Plus Malaysia as the daily traffic on the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway and LPT 1 is expected to increase by 60 percent during the Chinese New Year holiday, which is about 250,000 vehicles compared to 156,000 on normal days.

"We will ensure all assets are ready for the traffic increase including the use of drones to monitor the traffic movement from air as well as increasing patrolling and deployment of over 550 toll and traffic personnel," he said.

Nik Fauzi said Anih Berhad is offering a 10 percent toll discount to private or class one vehicle users on Jan 25 at the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway and from 12 midnight to 11.59pm at LPT 1, he said.

At the event, Anih Berhad also launched a road safety campaign to encourage road users to wear seat belts and rest every two hours after driving, with the hashtag #PasangSokmo and #MohSinggah in conjunction with the Chinese New Year holiday.

- Bernama