The sub-decree increasing fines for traffic violations was implemented over the weekend and National Police chief Neth Savoeun said while one or two thousand motorists were caught breaking the law, the operation was still a success.

“The important thing is that I acknowledge that many road users abided by the law. Millions of motorists and riders abided by the law and one or two thousand were fined.

“It is important to awaken them and help so they don’t have to pay money [for the fine]. Don’t break the law and you won’t have to pay money. If they don’t ride in the wrong direction, they have no dangers,” he said.

The National Police deployed more than 3,000 police forces across the country to impose the new fines, which are three to five-fold higher than the previous rates.

Some criticised the increased fines, saying it was an additional burden on people and requested that the government delay implementing the law while they are being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Savoeun said traffic law enforcement had only one aim – to reduce traffic accidents.

He said he doesn’t want people to die, sustain injuries or lose their property on the road.

“Doing this is not general. [Traffic police] enforce the law only on law-breaking motorists or riders. We don’t follow all of the points in the new decree.

“We only follow a few major points. For example, motorcycle riders must have crash helmets and respect signs and lights. Don’t speak on the phone,” he said.

Savoeun further said a traffic official in Svay Rieng province who overplayed his role by handcuffing a citizen had been suspended from work and his unit head came forward to apologise to the citizen.

He said the National Police was constantly monitoring traffic law enforcers across the country.

He also said officials who commit wrongdoing would be punished according to the law.

National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun said on Sunday that in the course of three days, enforcers checked more than 8,000 vehicles – about 6,000 motorcycles and 2,000 cars.

Institute for Road Safety director Kong Ratanak said he had seen two positive signs from the new traffic law enforcement.

“For me, I saw that a majority of the people are afraid of the law – they turn to abide by the law.

“In Phnom Penh these past few days citizens have obeyed traffic laws and respected traffic stops, which is a good sign,” he said.

“Others have had their driver’s licences renewed in groups. I think that this is a success.

“But if we want to achieve real success, it is not only through fines, but education and wide dissemination [of the law]. The road should be upgraded with clear signs. I think that will be more successful,” he said.

Ratanak said he hopes that with regular enforcement of the law, the bad behaviour of some people might be corrected in the long-term.

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