Johor Bahru father uses smart lane in medical emergency, sparks debate on traffic congestion and proper lane usage
IS Johor Bahru traffic ‘unbearable’?
A medical emergency prompted a father in Johor Bahru to utilise the smart lane to rush his 10-month-old child to the hospital after the infant vomited eight times within a three-hour window.
The father, identified as Azfar Syazwan, later took to the social media platform Threads to apologise for using the lane from Pandan to Bandar Dato Onn outside its designated operating hours.
He described that his decision was driven by desperation amid heavy traffic congestion.
“Hazard lights on all the way; I was worried because it was not smart lane timing and there was a heavy traffic jam. I am sorry and please do not be mad at me,” he wrote.
Azfar confirmed that his child has since been hospitalised and is currently in a stable condition, though he appealed to the public for prayers for a full recovery.
Doctors have reportedly diagnosed the infant with an infection, although the specific cause has yet to be determined.
The post drew an outpouring of sympathy from netizens, many of whom argued that an apology was unnecessary as emergency situations are precisely why such lanes exist.
“This is indeed the primary purpose of the lane, though many are not honest when using it. Hopefully, the child recovers quickly,” one user commented.
However, the incident also sparked a broader debate regarding traffic conditions in Johor Bahru.
One user, Mohd Azam Aman, expressed reservations about the “smart lane” system being opened too widely to the general public.
“It should be strictly for emergencies like this, when lives are at stake. People who have not experienced such a situation will say all sorts of things.
Fortunately, it is not a festive season; otherwise, all lanes, including the smart lane, would be gridlocked,” he said.
He further suggested that motorcycles should be permitted to use the lane to reduce the risks associated with lane-splitting.
Azfar described the current state of traffic in Johor Bahru as “unbearable”. He added that he had requested his wife to record their journey as proof of a genuine emergency, fearing potential repercussions for using the lane outside of its authorised hours.
