If you’re like me and find yourself waiting at the top up lane of the toll to put cash in your Touch ‘n Go on a weekly basis, you might want to start making a habit of topping up at petrol stations, or literally anywhere else because starting tomorrow, PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PMB) will no longer provide Touch ‘n Go reload facilities at all toll plaza exit lanes.
Yes, that’s right. You’re going to be left high and dry if you don’t ensure you have at least the toll amount in your card when you pass tolls now. While no one likes having to reverse whilst in line, the move is aimed at reducing congestion caused by reload activities at all toll plazas in the north and southern region. According to PMB, the decision is also aimed at ensuring the safety of PLUS customer service agents, who believe it or not are actually risking life and limb by working in toll booths. As it turns out, there have been 81 cases where heavy vehicles crashed into the toll booths between 2016-2018.
In the northern region, approximately 8% from 253,000 daily traffic average contribute to unnecessary delays due to customers having insufficient balance on their TnG cards and having to top up at the exit lanes. In the southern region, its 9% of 189,000. So if you’re wondering why PMB is doing this, it’s because of all those times you’ve had to reverse because the dude in front of you forgot that he had insufficient balance in his card.
PMB actually already implemented this in the central region and it’s cut down congestion by half. Personally, I don’t know how to feel about this. On the one hand, it’s great that there will be less congestion. While 8% may not seem like much, it still accounts for 20,240 vehicles contributing to congestion.
On the other hand, my TnG card is perpetually in my car and while I acknowledge that its as simple as going to the nearest reload kiosk and topping up, i’m a forgetful dude! Knowing that i can just top up at the Tambah Nilai booth of toll plazas should I forget to do so when filling up petrol is a comforting thought, but I suppose that’s just the problem isn’t it?
How do you feel about this news? Let us know in the comments!
