PLUS Expects 2.2 Million Vehicles on National Day

PLUS Malaysia Berhad Traffic Advisory: 2.2 Million Vehicles Expected During National Day and School Holidays

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS), the operator of Malaysia's largest highway network, projects that 2.2 million vehicles will use its expressways during the peak periods of the 2026 National Day and school holiday season. The traffic surge will affect the North-South Expressway (PLUS), a critical infrastructure for Malaysian road users who are planning holiday travel between 28-31 August and 4-7 September 2026. The service solves the problem of traffic congestion by offering scheduled travel windows through its digital MyPLUS-TTA (Travel Time Advisory) tool, which helps road users avoid peak-hour gridlock along the route from the Malaysian-Thai border to Singapore.

Key Facts

Below are the verified operational statistics and advisory figures for the 2026 National Day holiday period.

How Does MyPLUS-TTA Help Drivers Avoid Congestion?

MyPLUS-TTA (Travel Time Advisory) is a digital timetable that recommends specific departure times based on historical traffic patterns to balance the flow of vehicles across the network. This schedule is designed from the analysis of traffic patterns from previous festive seasons and peak periods. PLUS advises all users to adhere to this schedule to help distribute traffic and reduce the concentration of vehicles at specific locations during peak hours.

"PLUS menggalakkan pengguna merancang perjalanan lebih awal dengan merujuk jadual digital MyPLUS-TTA (Travel Time Advisory) menerusi Aplikasi PLUS."
— PLUS Malaysia Berhad, via Careta (translated from Malay)

The PLUS App also offers real-time traffic updates, emergency SOS assistance, incident reporting, toll fare estimates, rest and relax (R&R) locations, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and other highway service information.

Where Will the Smart Lanes Be Activated?

PLUS will activate the Smart Lane at 33 selected locations to smooth traffic flow in areas identified as having potential congestion. Users passing through these zones are advised to be alert to Smart Lane signs and to reduce speed. Use of the emergency lane outside the smart lane activation points is not permitted and may result in legal action.

**"Smart Lane will be activated at 33 locations, allowing drivers to temporarily use the emergency lane to ease congestion where necessary."**

These activations are part of the PLUS preparation that includes adding staff at toll plazas and R&Rs, increasing patrols, and continuous traffic monitoring through the Traffic Monitoring Centre, supported by the PDRM, JPJ, and LJM.

What Are the Recommended Travel Times for 2026?

Traffic is forecast to increase in two main periods: 28–31 August and 4–7 September 2026, when more road users will take advantage of public holidays and school breaks to travel. The MyPLUS-TTA tool calculates these times based on historical traffic data, making it a predictive resource, not a real-time update, although the app does provide live traffic data.

PLUS advises that the travel time schedule is arranged based on expected traffic patterns from previous festive seasons and peak periods.

While the source does not specify the exact recommended times in the article, it directs users to the MyPLUS-TTA feature for the exact scheduled departure. The success of this initiative depends on user compliance; distributed departure times help reduce vehicle concentration at specific locations.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Highway Travel in Malaysia

Before starting the trip, users should ensure that their vehicle is in good condition and that the Touch 'n Go card or eWallet balance for RFID users is sufficient to avoid problems at the toll plaza. For JustGO users, the payment card link on the app must remain active. If a transaction problem occurs, drivers can press the intercom button at the toll lane to get assistance.

The legal and safety requirements for Malaysian highways include adhering to speed limits, keeping a safe following distance, and not using a mobile phone while driving.

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

This advisory is for Malaysian drivers who plan to travel on the North-South Expressway, PLUS, during the National Day or school holidays. The core user is the weekend traveller or balik kampung traveller who uses the PLUS system for long-distance journeys between the Peninsula, KL, and other states. It is relevant to owners of compact cars, sedans, and buses; EV users will also find the app useful for locating charging stations at R&R facilities along the 240V compatible system, due to the tropical climate.

The most efficient way to get updates for these travel periods is to use the Plus App, which includes the SOS emergency service, toll estimates, and EV charging point locations.