PETALING JAYA: Some 1.3 million vehicles are expected to be on the highways during the upcoming festive season.

Traffic is expected to increase by 10% to 30% starting tomorrow with people returning to their hometowns for the Chinese New Year holidays, while heavy traffic is also anticipated for the return journey from Jan 27 to Feb 1.

PLUS Expressways Berhad managing director Noorizah Abd Hamid advised the public to follow the Travel Time Advisory it issued and plan their journey beforehand.

To encourage traffic distribution during off-peak hours, PLUS, she said, would also be offering an additional 10% discount on all Class 1 vehicles using the PLUS and Elite highways after 12am until 7am on six days ? from Jan 21 to 23, and on Jan 26, and 29 to 30.

"What the public doesn?t realise is that the discount is applicable when exiting the toll. It is not that they must start travelling in the middle of the night.

"We do not force road users to travel after midnight. It is just an incentive for those who are fit and able to drive at night," she said.

Currently, only 10% of motorists use the highways after midnight.

"More than 2,500 personnel, including 400 members from the police and Rela will be stationed at expressways, toll plazas and rest areas.

"Additional tow-trucks will be provided at 14 strategic locations along the expressways," said Noorizah, adding that the operating hours at PLUS customer service centres and reload lanes would be extended until 8.30pm and 11pm respectively between Jan 23 to Feb 1 for Touch ?n Go and SmartTAG transactions.

For the latest traffic updates and assistance, call the toll-free 24-hour PLUSLine at 1800 88 0000.