Speed cameras installed along National Road 3 to lower fatal road accidents
THE Ministry of Public Works and Transport will ask police to apprehend drivers of speeding vehicles on National Road 3 from Phnom Penh to Kampot province after the road is officially opened, the ministry spokesman said.
Heang Sotheayuth, ministry spokesman, said on June 1 that construction of National Road 3 from Phnom Penh to Kampot province was 98 per cent completed as of the end of May.
“Speed cameras are installed in 14 locations, starting at Kilometre 33rd to Kilometre 162nd posts along National Road 3 from the capital to the province. Police will begin using the system after the official inauguration of the road,” he said.
“The government does not have a specific timeline for the inauguration because of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
He said that after the official launch, the 14 speed cameras will determine the speed of vehicles and catch speeding drivers.
Sotheayuth said: “The speed cameras will help reduce the number of traffic accidents which often cause road casualties,” he said.
Kim Panha, director of Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, supports the installation of speed cameras by the ministry on national roads which encourages people to obey traffic laws and National Road 3 has had many traffic accidents.
“According to a report from authorities on National Road 3, each year the number of people who die in traffic accidents is 10 per cent of the national total.
“I believe that the installation of speed cameras must be in areas where there are frequent accidents,” Panha said, adding that before implementing the law, authorities must give the public advanced warning by telling them to be careful.
Sotheayuth added that the project to upgrade National Road 3 cost more than $219 million and is 134.7km long. Construction began on May 7, 2018, and is expected to be completed in the next 48 months.
The project is financed by China with the Cambodiangovernment contributing as well. The road is being constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corp, with Guangzhou Wanna Construction Supervision Co Ltd operating the technical inspections.