Ministry educate drivers on lanes, following distances
THE Ministry of Public Works and Transport has issued two prakas which remind drivers of the importance of using the correct lane and of respecting following distances. It is hoped that the parkas will contribute to reducing the Kingdom’s road accident rates and will alleviate traffic congestion.
An event to share the new guidelines with the public was presided over by Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea on November 20. In attendance were representatives from the ministry, the national, provincial and capital police forces, as well as transport departments. They were joined by the owners and managers of several transport companies and driving schools.
The ministry explained that the prakas aim to increase awareness of the use of lanes and following distances, in order to reduce the road toll, in line with the National Road Safety Decade Policy 2021-2030.
“The event focused on promoting and strengthening law enforcement, as well as training drivers and transport business owners to ensure safe driving, improve traffic order, and contribute to reducing accidents and traffic congestion,” it added.
Ministry spokesperson Phorn Rim said on November 21 that he has observed drivers using the wrong lanes, with some heavy vehicles in the motorcycle lane or vice versa. He explained that maintaining a safe following distance means ensuring a driver has time to respond if the vehicle in front of them slows or stops unexpectedly.
“Proper use of correct lanes and an understanding of safe following distances will contribute to a reduction to road accidents and will also alleviate congestion,” he said.
Kim Pagna, country director of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP), said that the ministry’s publication should serve as a reminder to drivers to be more aware of the use of lanes. He believed that this information should be provided to drivers while they are studying for their licenses.
He suggested that in addition to the parkas, the ministry should publish short educational videos to its social media channels. Media outlets should also play a role in teaching drivers about the importance of correct lane use and following other vehicles at a safe distance.
“Observing a safe following distance is mainly focused on reducing the number of accidents, although educating people about the correct use of lanes will also contribute. Generally, people using the correct lane will lead to a large reduction in traffic jams and overall congestion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Manet has issued directives to boost road safety and quality, with a particular emphasis on enforcing regulations concerning overweight trucks. Encouraging collective compliance, he urged drivers to adhere diligently to traffic laws.
These directives were delivered during the inauguration ceremony of National Road 5 on November 22, where he guided the evaluation of existing procedures and the implementation of stringent measures to uphold the continuous quality of the national road to uphold its continuous quality.
Additionally, the he stated the importance of promptly addressing any road damage to prevent subsequent, more severe deterioration.
“Apply these measures universally to all roads, bridges and state projects, where the Ministry of Public Works, along with relevant ministries and institutions, should establish a collaborative mechanism for consistently monitoring and preserving the quality of all infrastructure,” Manet said.
He also recommended reinforcing road safety measures, particularly by installing traffic signs and optimising traffic flow to mitigate the likelihood of road accidents.
“Every year, there are casualties attributed to landmines and losses due to diseases. However, traffic accidents surpass these, representing a substantial depletion of human resources,” he stated.
“All individuals must uphold traffic safety regulations, adhere to lane discipline and refrain from reversing, particularly on the Phnom PenhSihanoukville Expressway. I observed instances where drivers were reversing along the route, posing risks not only to themselves but to fellow drivers,” he said.
Concerningoverloadedtrucks, Manet urged authorities and private sector entities invested in transportation to collaborate in finding a solution and actively participate in preventing excessively loaded vehicles.
According to a report from the National Road Safety Committee, the first 10 months of 2023 saw 2,716 road accidents across Cambodia, resulting in 1,286 deaths and 3,640 injuries, including 2,258 serious. 2,524 of the people involved were motorcyclists without helmets. While the number of overall accidents represented a 9 per cent increase on the previous year, fatalities fell by 11 per cent.