As many traffic accidents involving garment workers are caused by a lack of knowledge of the law, a senior official said training and disseminating the rules of the road to the drivers of vehicles transporting them is an essential task that must be continued on a regular basis.

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) deputy director-general Heng Sophannarith made the remark while chairing a June 23 meeting held to discuss effective ways to educate the drivers of such vehicles about the traffic law.

“Educating these drivers remains an essential task. Many traffic accidents involving workers travelling to and from work are caused by speeding, failure to respect the right of way, dangerous overtaking or failure to inspect the mechanical condition of their vehicle,” he explained.

He emphasised that although an understanding of the law would not eliminate traffic accidents completely, it helps encourage road users to drive in a more responsible manner.

He hoped the training would help give them a clearer understanding of the law.

Sor Soputra, deputy governor of Kampong Speu province where garment factories are concentrated, issued a reminder to all road users that they should behave ethically on the roads and respect traffic laws. He thanked the NSSF for providing the training.

“We must remember that the lives of many workers depend on these means of transport. The drivers of all passenger services are required to abide by the traffic law and should conduct regular inspections of their vehicles,” he said.