The municipal hall says some lorries transport sand on the road and caused frequent accidents. Hean Rangsey
The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall will temporarily suspend lorries from travelling along Hun Sen Boulevard, also known as Boulevard 60m, after it discovered they had transported sand on the road and caused frequent traffic accidents resulting in deaths and injuries.
Municipal Hall spokesperson Met Meas Pheakdey told The Post on Tuesday that the measure had been raised at a recent working group meeting led by municipal governor Khuong Sreng.
Meas Pheakdey said speeding was also a factor when the administration chose to implement the measure.
“We took the measure because we saw shortfalls in lorry drivers who drive for companies. We cannot blame the companies themselves, saying they are wrong.
“Drivers drive fast without care and attention and they tend to cause dangerous situations. So, we have to do something to prevent these problems and create order in our transportation,” he said.
Meas Pheakdey said lorries transporting soil and sand along the road disregarded guidance from the municipal hall. The lorries were often not properly covered, thereby causing soil and mud to scatter on the road, endangering others.
Meanchey district deputy governor Dy Roth Khemrun told The Post on Tuesday that only lorries transporting soil and sand will be suspended, but cars can continue using the road. The measure will be effective from August.
He said: “Lorries are suspended from travelling along Boulevard 60m. Lorry drivers will be given one month to phase out of using lorries and set up a network of pumping stations and underground pipelines.
“We gave them one month because we believe that these development companies will be able to do that.”
District police chief Meng Vimeandara told The Post on Tuesday that over the past five years, traffic accidents along Hun Sen Boulevard resulted in five deaths, seven serious injuries and two minor ones. Most of the accidents had been caused by lorries.
Vimeandara said: “If this work can be done, it will be very good because we know a great many lorry [drivers] transport soil and sand in the developing area during the rainy months.
“Soil and sand flow out in the rain and they become a factor for traffic accidents. If the senior leadership thinks it’s a problem that can be solved, then it is good because drivers tend to drive fast on this big road.”
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