A dynamic artificial intelligence (AI) system has been proposed to facilitate road usage restrictions which adapt to real-time traffic conditions with the aim of resolving peak-hour traffic congestion, New Straits Times has reported.
“What if instead of fixed schedules, we could adjust restrictions in real time based on actual traffic conditions? When congestion spikes unexpectedly, the system could extend the ban. When roads are clear, it could allow heavy vehicles through,” said MY Mobility Vision founder and chief operating officer Wan Agyl Wan Hassan.
The suggestion from Wan Agyl comes after the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) announced last week that enforcement of the ban on lorries on the PLUS, NKVE, Elite and DUKE highways effective from February 19 this year.
Newly added restrictions are from 4:30pm to 7:30pm from Monday to Friday, as well as from 6:30am to 9:30am from Monday to Friday (new for the ELITE and DUKE highways; existing restriction for the PLUS North-South Expressway and the NKVE).
Subsequently, this move has sparked opposition from the Association of Malaysia Hauliers (AMH), who said that authorities failed to engage it and other stakeholders before making its unilateral decision. Today, other transport industry associations have aired their views on the peak-hour ban, reiterating that the move will cause disruptions to supply chains and impact members’ livelihoods.
Artificial intelligence-driven technology for traffic monitoring was not merely theoretical, citing studies that similar systems can reduce congestion by 22%, and reduce fuel costs by around 15%, and would create a more efficient and predictable system for drivers and logistics operators, thus reducing wasted hours, Agyl said.
Fixed time slots for the heavy vehicle ban fail to account for unpredictable traffic conditions, Agyl added. “Weather, accidents or even local events can extend the rush, while other times of day might be unexpectedly calm,” he said, and the mismatch leads to idling trucks, wasted fuel and business disruptions, especially for industries relying on just-in-time manufacturing and the delivery of perishable goods.
Extended detours and delays affect the entire supply chain, affecting industries from electronics to palm oil, he continued, and while he acknowledged the existence of some exemptions for emergency vehicles and waste management, they “barely scratch the surface when it comes to the needs of commercial logistics.”
“In Malaysia, projects like the Integrated Transport Information System (ITIS) have already shown that by working together, significant improvements in traffic management can be achieved,” Agyl said. Inter-modal transport was another solution, which is to shift the transport of freight from the roads to rail or sea routes, he added.
“Although rail currently handles less than five per cent of Port Klang’s cargo, there’s huge potential here,” he continued, urging increased investment in rail freight to relieve pressure on highways, and also called for a rethinking of the policy to ensure balancing of traffic management with economic efficiency.
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