Traffic deaths across the nation increased by 20 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year, according to the Road Traffic Accident and Victim Information System’s annual report released Wednesday.
A total of 1,545 people were killed on Cambodia’s roads in 2007, an average of 4.2 fatalities per day, the report said, adding that in 2006, a total of 1,291 people were killed.
In 2007, 9,449 accidents involving 16,982 vehicles were reported, resulting in 27,403 casualties, 7,150 of which were “severe.”
Traffic deaths during Chinese New Year and Khmer New Year did not increase from 2006 to 2007; however, fatalities during the Pchum Ben and the Water Festival holidays rose 50 and 40 percent, respectively.
“Human error alone is responsible for 94 percent of all road accidents,” the report said, adding that “hit-and-run” accidents represented 24 percent of the accidents. Half of all fatalities are attributed to speeding, while 19 percent were caused by alcohol abuse, according to the report.
“Comparing the number of fatalities of national roads with road length per kilometer, National Road 6A is the most deadly, followed by National Road[s] 4 and 6,” it said.
The report’s recommendations include stricter enforcement of the 2007 traffic law, in particular of key articles such as helmet wearing, speed limits in urban areas and along national roads, drunk driving laws and overloading regulations.
Enforcement of the traffic law is a priority, according Handicap International Belgium’s Road Safety Program Manager Sann Socheata.
“If there is not any enforcement
…rates will continue to increase,” she said.
“Talking about traffic, there are a lot of problems,” said Ouk Kim Lek, deputy national police commissioner.
