Following the launch of new anti-speeding and anti-drunk driving initiatives, the Phnom Penh Municipal traffic police department has booked 147 drivers and confiscated the driver’s licenses of four, officers said on Tuesday.
However, drivers who drink and speed at night have less to worry about than breaking the same laws during the day, as the police campaign, which employs speeding laser guns and alcohol breath analyzers, usually winds up at about 11 pm, police said.
Him Yan, deputy chief of the municipal traffic police, said that last month, 130 cars were detected speeding and 17 drivers were found to be over the permitted alcohol limit, which led to four of them to losing their licenses.
“Now, drivers seem to be aware that police are using speed guns, and they are driving carefully,” he said, adding that mostly the speed-reading devices are used on approach roads to Phnom Penh.
The main target roads for breathalyzer tests in the city are Norodom, Monivong, Kampuchea Krom and Russian boulevards, and Sisowath Quay, said Him Yan, though he also confirmed that at night there is a lack of officers to undertake speeding and drunk driving checks.
There is also a lack of equipment. On Monday, Handicap International donated another speed laser gun and a breath analyzer, bringing the total now in use in the city to three of each.
“We will try to find funds to buy more of these tools to help traffic police implement the law better,” said Handicap’s road safety project coordinator Meas Chandy.
Lieutenant General Ouk Kimlek, deputy secretary general of the National Police and deputy chairman of the National Road Safety Committee, said that three speed guns were not enough.
“But it is a step to train traffic police in their use and to alert drivers as well,” he added.
