The daily school run in Malaysia: a tangle of traffic, time, and tired parents

Every weekday morning in Malaysia, the “school run” turns roads into congested bottlenecks as parents rush to drop their children off on time. What seems like a simple routine becomes a stressful logistical challenge, especially for working parents balancing traffic, tight schedules, and office commitments. With many schools starting within the same short time frame, the ripple effect causes nationwide congestion, affecting not only families but also other road users. The chaos around school gates double parking, unsafe drop-offs, and motorcyclists weaving through traffic raises serious road safety concerns, making the daily journey both exhausting and potentially dangerous.