Since March 9, more than 2,000 vehicles have been stopped in the capital by police night traffic control, according to a recent police report.

From March 9 to March 15, police conducting such controls from 11pm to 2:30am have stopped and fined 26 people driving after taking drugs and 250 driving under the influence of alcohol.

“Most traffic-related offences are caused by motorists and motorcycle riders under the influence of alcohol. There are also cases of people driving over the speed limit and not wearing helmets,” said Phnom Penh municipal police chief Sar Thet.

He said police confiscated the offenders’ vehicles and issued fines to educate them.

Thet told The Post on March 10 that strengthening the enforcement of the Road Traffic Law – including testing alcohol levels, stopping motorcycle riders who failed to wear helmets and motorists who consumed drugs or carried illegal weapons – would lower the number of traffic accidents and reduce crime.

He said there is no date as to when the controls will be discontinued.

AIP Foundation director Kim Pagna on Monday said: “Authorities should conduct checks in places where people tend to drink a lot, such as at weddings. By doing this they can advise people not to drink too much and to be careful,” he said.