Packed bags, check! “Balik Kampung” music playlist, check! Gifts for the family, check! “Duit raya” for the kids, check!
Now, all that is left in your Hari Raya to-do list is your trip back to your hometown! Finding the perfect time to leave can be a challenge. Leave too late and you will be caught in traffic, but wake up too early and you’ll have grumpy crying kids in tow. This Raya, make the most of your holiday to reconnect with family and friends by spending less time on the road!
People are expected to be driving up to 25% more during the Hari Raya celebration. The increase starts two days before Hari Raya and is predicted to peak at the following weekend. With that many people on the roads, nobody wants to waste time being stuck in traffic when you could be home having “Lemang” with your family.
During the days leading up to Hari Raya, there will be a 5% drop in Waze usage in Kuala Lumpur, as road users are expected to head out of the capital city. Terengganu will see a 42% increase in incoming traffic while both Kuala Muda and Johor Bahru will anticipate a 10% increase in traffic heading their way respectively.
So, what can they do to make their “Balik Kampung” drive better? Here are five top tips from Waze!
Tip 1: Plan around High Traffic Areas and Peak Hours
Waze has identified high traffic areas and the worst times to travel, from June 12 to June 20, to help road users plan their trips around these times.
Based on Waze’s road traffic data, it is predicted that Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu will be seeing an increase in traffic jams, so those heading towards these states should take note of the best time to travel.
Tip 2: Share Your Drive with Your Family
While you’re on the road, your mum could be anxiously wondering when you will finally make it back for dinner and whether you’re safe. Give your family peace of mind as you make your way home for the reunion.
By simply sharing your drive, your family will be able to track your drive progress instead of distracting you from your drive with a text message or a phone call!
Before beginning your drive:
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Once you’ve started your navigation:
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. To send the ETA:Tip 3: Avoid Hanging Out in High Traffic Destinations!
Waze also found road users’ favourite destinations during Hari Raya to be shopping centers, which sees a 20% increase in traffic, followed by restaurants, hotels, gas stations and banks. Shopping centers and restaurants are popular lifestyle destinations among Malaysians, thus the top two comes as no surprise, as Hari Raya is a time best spent with family and friends. It would be a good idea to have alternative hang out spots.
Tip 4: Share Your Location for Easy Meet-ups
If you are going to meet some old friends who have not been in town for a while, help them save time in looking for your meet-up point.
In four simple steps, you can share your location or the location of your intended destination so that you can meet your friends without having to worry about getting lost!
All you have to do is:
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on Android or 
on iOS next to Favorite or address from your history.
.Tip 5: Watch Your Speed Limit
While it would be great to have a quick and traffic jam-free drive, it is always better to be safe than sorry! Enable speed limit notifications on your Waze app and you’ll be able to see how fast you’re driving. Better yet, receive alerts when you’re driving at or above the speed limit.
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, then Settings 
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just next to the speedometer if you’re driving close to the speed limit.
Avoid delays on your trip home for Raya with the Waze app, download and test it out for yourself! For more information, please visit Waze.