Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol called on citizens operating vehicles with expired driving licenses and vehicle inspection certificates to renew them or they would be fined.
Chanthol said some driver’s licenses have expired for eight years.
He also said drivers without proper inspection certificates could be involved in accidents because their vehicles could be faulty.
Chanthol made the remarks as he led officials to inspect the National Road 5 construction site on Wednesday.
“Now, 46 per cent of licences have expired. Out of a total of more than 700,000 vehicles, more than 300,000 have not yet been inspected,” he said.
Chanthol said the ministry had set up a notification system for citizens. One month before the expiration of a driving licence, the system will send a message reminding the citizen to renew. He said more than 9,000 messages have been sent to expired licence holders.
“I would like to call on all national road users to take care of our national assets as Prime Minister Hun Sen tries to raise funds to build Cambodia’s infrastructure.
“We must take care not to surpass the weight limit imposed by law, which can cause damage to our national roads,” he said.
He also called on drivers to obey traffic laws to reduce accidents.
Chanthol said on average, five road fatalities and 15 injuries occur in Cambodia each day. He said besides the loss of lives, the accidents account for $350 million in damage to state and private property annually.
“If you ride a motorcycle, wear a helmet. If you drive a car, please put on your seat belt. Don’t talk on the phone while driving, it’s illegal. Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Do not drive recklessly and do not exceed the speed limit. It is very important to obey the traffic laws,” he said.
Chanthol said the ministry is collaborating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to install cameras on national roads capable of tracking vehicle speeds.
If an offender is found, the ministry will be able to send a bill directly to the wrongdoer’s home.
Asia Injury Prevention Foundation director Kim Panha said getting cars inspected is important because they require regular technical checks in addition to daily checks to avoid traffic accidents.
“Getting regular technical checks and having a driving licence indicates that a driver’s vehicle is safe and the driver is competent,” he said.
