Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Sixteen die on roads during Water Festival

Sixteen die on roads during Water Festival

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A car accident along National Road 6 in Kampong Thom province's Baray District on November 07. YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM

Sixteen die on roads during Water Festival

During the three days of the Water Festival, 16 people died in traffic accidents, a reduction of six when compared to the same period last year, according to the National Police.

According to a November 9 accident report, from November 7-9, there were 27 traffic accidents nationwide. Sixteen people were killed and 44 were injured, 31 of them seriously.

National Police’s Traffic Police and Public Order Department director Heng Chantheary told The Post that the total number of accidents was down by 18 per cent compared to last year’s event.

He said that the same number of people was injured as during last year’s holiday.

“Eight of the causes were attributed to excessive speed, seven to disrespecting the right of way and four to driving on the wrong side of the road. Four were caused by racing vehicles, one was due to a reckless maneuver and three to defective vehicles. Twelve of the dead were motorcyclists, three were pedestrians and one was a passenger in a car,” he said.

He noted that nine of the deceased motorcyclists were not wearing helmets at the time of their accidents.

According to a report by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, traffic accidents in the first half of 2022 decreased by 26 per cent compared to 2019, when there were no Covid-19 restrictions. The death toll was down by 9 per cent when compared to the same period, with a decrease of 31 per cent in injuries.

Kim Pagna, director of the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation in Cambodia, said that the number of accidents is a clear indicator that more action must be taken.

“It is important that we take measures to respond to the increased month on month traffic flow. In my opinion, these measures must consist of nothing more than a broader enforcement of traffic laws. This must be done more strictly, consistently and transparently, day and night,” he said.

He encouraged all members of the public – as well as institutions, both governmental and non-governmental – to contribute more to reducing deaths and injuries from traffic accidents.

“This should start with the family. For example, if we see a family member about to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, we should stop them. Parents should set good examples for their children, and workplaces and large institutions should establish firm policies around making good safety decisions on the road,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to