Four Tips For Surviving the Checkpoint Jam During the September Holiday

(Photo Credit: Mothership SG)

The 2019 September school holiday starts from 6th September to 15th September, and both of the Woodlands and Tuas Link checkpoints are bound to be congested. Here are four tips to help you with the traffic jam at these checkpoints.

The 2019 September school holiday has arrived, and will last from 6^th September 2019 to 15^th September 2019. As with all school and public holidays, you can definitely expect both of the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints to be congested with traffic. Everyone’s eager to travel during the holiday period, and this will most definitely cause a jam at both checkpoints.

To ensure your journey goes smoothly, we have compiled a list of useful travel tips. Hopefully with these tips you'll have a hassle-free drive from Singapore to Malaysia, and vice versa.

Without further ado, here are four tips for surviving the traffic congestion at the land checkpoints this September holiday.

1. Check That You Have The Right Passport

(Photo Credit: The Straits Times)

During peak periods, the queues at both of the land checkpoints can last for up to three, even four hours. Therefore, it is vital that you ensure the correct passport is with you before embarking on your trip.

There have been cases of travelers turning up at the checkpoints without the correct passport, or even without any at all. Doing so will cause the entire queue to be held up, which will inconvenience your fellow motorists, creating a lot more hassle that could have been easily avoided.

It is also important to have the right passport at hand. Passports reported as lost will be promptly cancelled by the Immigration Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Therefore, recovered passports which have already been reported as lost cannot be presented at the checkpoints.

Using passports already reported as lost is classified by the ICA as an offense under the Passports Act. Doing so can therefore result in you being fined for up to $3000 or being imprisoned for up to 2 years or in more severe cases, both.

Please also ensure that your passport has at least six months of validity before travelling. Otherwise, you might be turned back by the immigration officers at the checkpoints.

2. Ensure That You Don’t Bring Any Prohibited Items Into Singapore Or Malaysia

(Photo Credit: Singapore Business Review)

Security checks will be conducted at the land checkpoints of both Woodlands and Tuas Link, as confirmed by the ICA. Therefore, it is imperative that you do not bring any prohibited items into Singapore or Malaysia.

Examples of prohibited items in Singapore include firecrackers, chewing gum, and more. There are also certain prohibited items in Malaysia as well, which you’ll have to check before driving to Malaysia.

If you’re bringing dutiable or controlled items such as eggs or meat products, you’re required to declare these products at the Red Channel or Customs Examination Area prior to checking in. Not doing so will result in these goods being confiscated from you. In addition, you will also be holding up the already long line at the checkpoint.

Therefore, in order to avoid such hassle, do check your luggage for any prohibited or controlled goods when driving to or back from Malaysia.

3. Maintain Lane Discipline At All Times To Avoid Major Accidents

(Photo Credit: Torque SG)

Over the years there have been numerous documented instances of lane cutting at the lanes leading to both checkpoints. Such driving on the road can be counterproductive to shortening your travelling time, as it may conversely lead to even more congestion, not to mention, endangering the lives of your fellow motorists.

An accident on the causeway would do much more damage to the level of congestion rather than easing it. You may be in a rush, but do keep in mind that everyone around you wants to reach their destination punctually as well. Thus, refrain from engaging in unruly driving etiquette, such as lane cutting, as it can worsen congestion instead.

4. Check The Traffic Situation

(Photo Credit: The Straits Times)

As stated earlier, due to the September holidays, traffic is bound to be much more congested and slow moving than usual. Waiting time at checkpoints will be much prolonged as well.

One of the ways of reducing this waiting time as much as possible is by checking the traffic situation at both Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints. By doing so, you’ll be able to gauge when the best time to embark on your journey is, as well as how to plan your commute.

In case you didn't know, checking traffic conditions can be easily achieved through the Motorist App. The Motorist App provides users with direct access to live-traffic cameras, allowing you check traffic conditions at both checkpoints, enabling you to anticipate major jams and gauge the best time to start on your journey. It even displays the estimate travelling time to and fro the checkpoint from both Tuas and Woodlands.

Click on the link at the end of this article to download the Motorist App, and make your drive that much more of a pleasant one.

These tips will ensure that your drive to and back from Malaysia during the September holidays, while long, will be as painless as possible. Are there any tips on surviving the traffic jam that we’ve left out on? If so, let us know in the comments below!

Read More: How To Apply For A Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP)

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