About 10,000 traffic law manuals were distributed to drivers in Phnom Penh municipality and Kandal province in the first half of this year as part of a push to increase awareness of road safety, according to the National Culture and Social Morality Centre, which handed out the books.

"We have published these books because traffic accidents in our country are increasing and the situation is the worst of all the Asean countries," said Po Samnang, director of the centre. "Five or six people die [in traffic accidents] every day."

Po Samnang said the center, a non-governmental body, was targeting the areas and groups it deemed to be most at risk of being involved in traffic accidents. "We are focusing on [high risk groups such as] moto-dops and taxi drivers."

Pen Khun, deputy police chief in Phnom Penh's traffic bureau, said that road deaths are on the increase in the capital. He said that 137 people were killed in Phnom Penh in the first half of 2008, compared just 122 in the last six months of 2007.

Mom kunthear