Police in Phnom Penh have begun conducting road checks at night to fine and educate those who violate traffic laws.

The initiative began on Monday, with the police stopping over 400 motorcyclists and motorists between 11pm and 2:30am. The violators were sent to the police station to be educated and pay a fine.

Phnom Penh municipal police chief Sar Thet told The Post on Tuesday that the road checks seek to stop drunk drivers, motorcycle riders that do not wear helmets, and those who commit other offences.

“In short, the controls tackle not only road violations but all types of crimes,” he said.

He said the road checks will continue every night. “Police officers are being deployed to seven locations across town, with each consisting of 45 policemen.”

Thet said it was essential to ensure the law is enforced at night because accidents during that time tend to be fatal. “Night-time accidents generally involve drunk drivers who speed.

“We are not doing this to make money. We do it to prevent casualties on the road. We must all respect the traffic law. Citizens must respect road rules to protect their own lives.

“We don’t want to see anymore Cambodians die like this,” he said.

He said police stopped 374 motorists for not wearing helmets and one for driving without a mirror. Fourteen drivers and 15 motorcyclists were stopped and found to be under the influence of alcohol. One was found to be driving after having taken drugs.

Police officers confiscated 389 motorcycles and 14 cars.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony on Tuesday on Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich, Prime Minister Hun Sen said he wished Cambodians were as afraid of traffic accidents as they are of the novel coronavirus.

“I agree with the Ministry of Information Khieu Kanharith. If Khmers were as afraid of traffic accidents as they are of Covid-19, thousands of lives will be spared,” Hun Sen said.