Traffic congestion leads to mental, emotional health effects
Traffic congestion adversely affects the health of road users
SHAH ALAM - Traffic congestion in the Klang Valley which is currently getting worse, has adversely affected individuals who have to face the traffic on a daily basis.
Having to wait for almost three hours to reach a destination could lead to mental and emotional stress.
Private sector worker Muhd Azizi Zulhilmi Jumaat, 24, said being stuck in a traffic jam for too long could cause a person's health to decline.
“For me, the distance from my house in Cheras to the office in Petaling Jaya is only 16 kilometres, but it took me almost two hours to reach the office and I have to spend another two hours on the road to get back home.
“The congestion that usually occurs on the Federal Highway is due to the construction which has yet to be completed, so from four lanes, only three lanes could be used as one of them was closed.
"This would affect people's health. Not only are people tired after working, but they also have to face traffic jams on their way home. It really hurts.
"This could be a source of stress," he told Sinar Harian.
Information technology (IT) recruiter Rishaalini Krishnan, 27, said she has to face bad traffic every day, causing her daily routine to be unpredictable.
"Imagine from Shah Alam to Bangsar, which is just a straight road, but it took me two hours and 30 minutes to reach the office due to congestion in some areas.
"That is why I prefer working from home. Going to the office could be so stressful, and my legs could become numb when I drive (for too long).
"Sometimes I arrive late to work even when I leave home early in the morning," she said.
Meanwhile, assistant secretary Afiqah Manarina Kasim, 24, said she was still wondering what could be the cause of the traffic congestion in the Klang Valley especially after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“The traffic was not too bad during the fasting month, but for some reason it became worse after people came back (from their hometowns) after Hari Raya.
“Usually at 6.30am, there are already many cars on the road. If we look at the ‘Waze’ (map) application, there would be the red colour line indicating that the roads are extremely congested.
"When there is a car accident ahead, sometimes road users are not even able to move at all.
"There are times when I burst into tears due to the stress of having to face traffic jams every day," she said.
