Twelve people have been killed and 11 others seriously injured in one of Cambodia’s worst ever traffic accidents, less than a fortnight before Khmer New Year.

The crash occurred on April 1 when a mini-van packed full of travelers collided with a truck as it tried to turn across a highway in eastern Cambodia, district Police Chief Heng Vuthy said.

“It is a tragedy caused by driver negligence,” he said.

Better roads and more vehicles are contributing heavily to Cambodia's bloody road toll, but police say bad driving is the main cause behind most accidents – something motorists should bear in mind as hoards take to the highways over the April 13-15 New Year break. (AFP)