TRUCK driver Wan Kim Toh, 39, says he has not 'bathed, slept and eaten for days' as he has been stuck in the massive traffic build-up tailing back several km from the Woodlands checkpoint because of the stepped up checks on every vehicle for missing terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari.

Mr Wan, who delivers construction materials from Johor Baru to the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, has been waiting along with hundreds of other heavy vehicles like container trucks, long trailers and cement mixers, along Woodlands since Tuesday afternoon and is still no where near the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) checkpoint.

The vehicle tail-back stretches as far back as Bukit Timah Expressway, with scores of lorry and truck drivers forced to spend the night in their vehicles due to the more stringent checks since the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari from a detention centre on Wednesday afternoon.

Lorry drivers said the traffic build-up has worsened in the last two days and many of the vehicles waiting to cross the Causeway or Second Link into Malaysia have been caught in the long jam for more than 24 hours.

Mr Wan, who normally does three shuttle runs daily between Johor and Singapore, said he has been waiting in line since 3 pm on Tuesday.

'I haven't slept, bathed and eaten in days,' said the angry and frustrated driver. 'I am very tired and disoriented.'

Lorry drivers estimate that between 500 and 700 vehicles are being held up along the roads leading to the Woodlands checkpoint because of the tightened security checks, which could take as long as an hour for a truck with loaded cargo to clear. The tail-back in Tuas was more than 2 km long on Tuesday night.

The drains along the roads where the lorries and trucks are inching their way through, are littered with empty instant noodles packets, disposable cups and food wrappings.

Most of the waiting drivers spend their time chatting with other drivers or napping in their vehicles.

The ICA said the heavy traffic flow at Woodlands and Tuas is inevitable, with the stepped-up checks.

The traffic build-up is expected to worsen over the two coming weekends, with the March school holidays starting this Saturday.

ICA advises travellers to plan their journey ahead when using the land checkpoints and to avoid the peak periods.

For departures, it says traffic is expected to start building up from Friday evening, and for arrivals, traffic will be heavy on March 15 and 16.

It urges drivers to maintain lane discipline. Travellers are also encouraged to car-pool or take the public transport, and ensure that they do not bring any unlawful or prohibited goods into Singapore as this would cause inconvenience and affect clearance.

Said ICA in a statement on Wednesday: 'Our borders are our first line of defence in safeguarding Singapore's security. The enhanced security checks are critical to our nation's security, especially with the recent escape of Mas Selamat.'

'ICA will put in every effort and continue to take the necessary measures to improve clearance efficiency as much as possible without compromising security.'