Municipal traffic police start checking helmets
IN A BID to strengthen compliance of road traffic laws, the Phnom Penh traffic police were deployed throughout the capital on Monday to identif y motorcyclists and passengers not wearing helmets.
Municipal police chief Sar Thet previously said on Sunday that the clampdown – part of a nationwide campaign to bolster enforcement of traffic laws – would be put in place from Monday onwards.
At least 296 motorcyclists and 249 pillion riders were found not wearing helmets during t he first day of t he campaign, municipal traffic bureau chief Sem Sokunthea told The Post on Monday evening.
“We did not impose a fine [on any of t he v iolators], but instead educated and instructed them to get a helmet and then we allowed them to t ravel f urt her,” Sokunthea said.
It was prev iously reported t hat t he aut horities had said the forces would be deployed day and night at 16 points throughout Phnom Penh to crack down on motorcyclists and passengers without helmets.
However, Sokunthea said yesterday that the operations were concentrated in five locations across Phnom Penh, such as the Kouch Kanong Roundabout and on Russian Federation Boulevard near the Office of the Council of Ministers.
Other locations included t he Bokor traffic light, and at the corner of Preah Norodom Boulevard and Mao Tse Tong Boulevard. The forces, he said, had been deployed between 8am and 8pm.
Before sending them to the locations, Sar Thet said on Monday morning that police must be role models for people and adhere to traffic laws. He urged them to always wear a helmet when riding a motorbike.
“From this day on, we are launching a campaign to [strengt hen] t he enforcement of traffic laws. Motorcyclists and passengers who do not wear helmets must be stopped and could only be a llowed to continue their journey af ter obtaining a helmet.
“This applies to everyone, even to members of the police forces and civil servants,” he told his subordinates.
Institute for Road Safet y acting director Kong Ratanak welcomed the move, say ing it was time for Cambodians to learn about and respect t he laws.
“By respecting the laws, we would be a dignified society with security and development,” he stressed.