The Ministry of Interior has announced that it will resume enforcement of the Road Traffic Law, following a worrying rise in road accidents. This was confirmed by ministry deputy spokesperson Touch Sokhak, on Monday, November 24.
He noted that 44 people were killed and 120 others were injured nationwide in 69 traffic accidents recorded over just seven days, from November 17 to November 23.
The renewed enforcement follows a directive by Ministry of Interior Sar Sokha, who suspended enforcement of the traffic law on July 25, after tensions arose along the Cambodia–Thailand border.
“Implementation of the Road Traffic Law has now resumed after being suspended for a period of time. At several designated locations across Cambodia, traffic police officers have begun enforcing the law step by step,” said Sokhak.
He explained that recent accidents which resulted in deaths and injuries occurred across Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kandal, Kampong Speu, Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Kampot, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri, Kratie, Kampong Cham and Prey Veng.
Sokhak urged all vehicle operators and road users to respect traffic laws and maintain high vigilance at all times — whether on expressways, national roads, provincial roads or community and village routes — to protect their own lives and the lives of others.
The deadliest day was the morning of November 20, when at least 19 people were killed nationwide. Of them, 16 victims died in Kampong Thom province, when a Virak Rithy Transport sleeper bus plunged off the O’Prasat bridge into a river, reportedly after the driver fell asleep.
