Alain Ney
Cambodge Soir
25-07-2008
2007’s road accident figures have been revealed. The number of accidents have doubled within five years.
Cambodia holds a sad record “with the highest rate of all Asean countries”, 27,403 traffic accidents said General Ouk Kim Lek, the deputy commissioner of the general commissariat of the National Police. This was the introduction for the annual report jointly published by Handicap international Belgium and the Ministries of the Interior, Health, Public Works and Transportation. Those figures should be put in context with the timing of new traffic regulations which came to force last year.
A total of 1,545 individuals (of which 971 were riding motorbikes) were killed in those accidents, an average of 4.2 per day. This is a 20% increase from 2006. Most victims were aged from 20 to 30. The numbers for 2008’s first two months indicate an increase of individuals killed, now averaging almost 5 per day. In Phnom Penh only, the number of deaths increased by 54% between 2006 and 2007, affecting all districts. The National Road between Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham is the country’s most dangerous road, followed by the one linking the Capital to Sihanoukville.
Speed is to be blamed for half of the accidents and alcohol abuse for 20% of them. Half of the drivers (cars, lorries or buses) involved in accidents did not hold a driving license. 73% of the individuals driving or riding during an accident are men although they only represent 49% of the population. Most often crashes involve a motorbike and a car (35%) or occur between motorbikes (15%).
With regard to the use of safety equipment: in 96% of the cases, the passengers or the car drivers who were injured in an accident did not fasten their seat belts. The recent obligation to wear a helmet and its efficiency raises problems. The authorities should look into the quality of the articles for sale in the country. The figures revealed that 17% of the riders involved in an accident and not wearing a helmet suffered from head injuries, whereas for those wearing a helmet the percentage is 13%, a difference of only four percent.
The existing impunity on the roads needs to be eradicated. The future government will have to come to grips with the present road chaos. “The new code will be enforced in 2009, once the elections are over”, warned Preap Chanvibol, deputy director of the land Transportation Office of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation.
Alain Ney
25-07-2008
2007’s road accident figures have been revealed. The number of accidents have doubled within five years.
Cambodia holds a sad record “with the highest rate of all Asean countries”, 27,403 traffic accidents said General Ouk Kim Lek, the deputy commissioner of the general commissariat of the National Police. This was the introduction for the annual report jointly published by Handicap international Belgium and the Ministries of the Interior, Health, Public Works and Transportation. Those figures should be put in context with the timing of new traffic regulations which came to force last year.
A total of 1,545 individuals (of which 971 were riding motorbikes) were killed in those accidents, an average of 4.2 per day. This is a 20% increase from 2006. Most victims were aged from 20 to 30. The numbers for 2008’s first two months indicate an increase of individuals killed, now averaging almost 5 per day. In Phnom Penh only, the number of deaths increased by 54% between 2006 and 2007, affecting all districts. The National Road between Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham is the country’s most dangerous road, followed by the one linking the Capital to Sihanoukville.
Speed is to be blamed for half of the accidents and alcohol abuse for 20% of them. Half of the drivers (cars, lorries or buses) involved in accidents did not hold a driving license. 73% of the individuals driving or riding during an accident are men although they only represent 49% of the population. Most often crashes involve a motorbike and a car (35%) or occur between motorbikes (15%).
With regard to the use of safety equipment: in 96% of the cases, the passengers or the car drivers who were injured in an accident did not fasten their seat belts. The recent obligation to wear a helmet and its efficiency raises problems. The authorities should look into the quality of the articles for sale in the country. The figures revealed that 17% of the riders involved in an accident and not wearing a helmet suffered from head injuries, whereas for those wearing a helmet the percentage is 13%, a difference of only four percent.
The existing impunity on the roads needs to be eradicated. The future government will have to come to grips with the present road chaos. “The new code will be enforced in 2009, once the elections are over”, warned Preap Chanvibol, deputy director of the land Transportation Office of the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation.
Alain Ney
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