Fourteen people were killed and 37 others were injured in traffic accidents over the two days of New Year’s Eve 2022 and New Year’s Day 2023.

According to a report from the Department of Traffic Police and Public Order of the General Commissariat of National Police, on the day before New Year 2023, there were 15 traffic accidents across the country, which killed six people and injured 16. On January 1, there were 13 traffic accidents across the country, resulting in eight deaths and 21 injuries.

“Most of the victims were motorcyclists who were speeding, driving carelessly, or failed to respect the right of way of other vehicles,” it said.

Thei Visal, deputy director of the department, said that during the two day period, police officers issued 473 fines to road users, 412 of them motorcyclists, for violating the rules of the road.

“The traffic situation across these two days was actually good, but unfortunately there were still some accidents. Tragically, there are 14 families who will remember what should have been a very happy time of the year in a very unfortunate way,” he added.

He called on all road users to respect traffic laws consistently and drive carefully. They should be wary of exceeding the speed limit, respect the right of way and avoid driving under the influence of drugs of alcohol, he continued.