Jica says the rising number of road traffic accidents is bordering on becoming a crisis. Heng Chivoan
While the sub-decree on traffic fines is in the process of being reviewed, pending its temporary replacement of the Law on Road Traffic, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) Cambodia on Thursday announced it will also help find a solution to the Kingdom’s rising number of accidents.
At a road safety seminar in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Jica Cambodia office chief representative Sugano Yuichi said although the Kingdom is experiencing remarkable economic growth, it also identified the rising number of road traffic accidents which it said was bordering on becoming a crisis.
“The National Road Safety Committee report last year recorded 4,121 cases of accidents, with 1,981 deaths and 6,131 injuries. These figures alert us to the fact that road traffic accidents on average took 5.4 people’s lives per day.
“In response, the Jica Cambodia Office is determined to help promote road safety in cooperation with the National Road Safety Committee [NRSC],” Sugano said.
Ministry of Public Works and Transport secretary of state and secretary-general of the NRSC Min Manavy said that the government is making efforts to develop all sectors to improve the incomes of the people and the economy.
“Amid the advancement of infrastructure, roads and bridges in every area, road accidents are taking place every day and becoming a serious crisis.
“Road safety requires the participation of all stakeholders to prevent and reduce road traffic accidents.
“Currently, traffic accidents remain a major government concern. Traffic accidents continue to occur every day and cause many casualties, injuries and disabilities, apart from damaging public and private property,” she said.
Manavy said the rush to get to a destination, negligence and non-compliance with the road traffic laws was the cause of accidents.
She said last year, the Japan Asean International Fund provided funding and technical resources to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport’s Department of Traffic Safety to implement a road safety promotion programme for 58 primary school students along National Road 1 and 5.
“As a result, students and teachers in all 58 schools have not had any traffic accidents so far,” she said.
Manavy said the Japanese government and people, through Jica Cambodia, have contributed much to the Kingdom’s development in many fields.
“With Sugano’s commitment, we are confident that we will be able to solve our traffic woes,” she said.
Meantime, the Asian Development Bank’s experts have estimated that traffic accidents cause more than $350 million in property damage each year in Cambodia.
