Phnom Penh, 18 July 2024: During the first six months of this year, from January to June, Cambodia recorded 1,520 road accidents, according to a report from the Ministry of Interior.

These accidents claimed 793 lives and injured 2,072 others, representing year-on-year increases of 5 percent and 7 percent, respectively. The report highlighted that more than half of these accidents occurred at night.

The major causes of road accidents in Cambodia include excessive speeding, failure to respect priority rights, drunk driving, not wearing helmets, and overtaking or turning in dangerous situations. The number of unreported accidents may be even higher, raising concerns about the true extent of road safety issues in the country.

Authorities are urging the public to adhere strictly to traffic laws to help reduce the number of accidents. However, it is also time for Cambodia to review the age requirements for riding and the mandatory acquisition of a driving license. Many Cambodians are unfamiliar with road rules, which exacerbates the problem.

A growing concern is the prevalence of electric scooters being ridden by children who lack understanding of road rules. Additionally, the amount of traffic around schools without police supervision contributes to chaotic conditions where bikes and cars frequently ignore traffic rules, driving on the wrong side of the road and causing hazards for children walking nearby.

Helmet usage is another critical issue. Many motorists, including parents who wear helmets themselves, fail to ensure that their children are also protected. Observations reveal that in a short 10-minute ride to work, it is common to see over 100 motorists without helmets, and larger vehicles like cars and buses driving recklessly, honking, and taking over the wrong lanes simply because they are bigger.

To address these issues, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, increased education on road safety, and improved infrastructure around schools are urgently needed.