Traffic accidents, fatalities increase

THE number of traffic accidents and fatalities increased marginally during the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, though the number of injuries dropped.

According to data from the Ministry of Interior, there were 1,883 traffic accidents in the first half of the year, resulting in 919 deaths, an increase of 0.8 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, on the same period last year.

The number of injured, however, declined by 9 percent to 2,982.

More than three out of four people killed in road accidents were on a motorbike, accounting for 76 percent of the deaths. Among those fatalities, in 82 percent of cases, those killed were not wearing a helmet.

According to the same report, the leading cause of road accidents was speeding, which accounted for 36 percent of all cases, followed by disrespecting another driver’s right of way, breaking the law by driving right-hand steering vehicles and drunk driving.

Run Roth Veasna, the head of the ministry’s Public Order Department, said yesterday that the number of casualties resulting from road accidents remains a concern for the government.

“The implementation [of the new traffic laws], which has lasted for almost a year, shows that it is getting better, but the numbers are st i l l worrisome,” he said, adding that authorities will impose stricter enforcement of traffic laws.