MPWT: 2019, the Year with Highest Road Accidents in Last Five Years

Phnom Penh, November 21, 2023 --

“2019” was the year with the highest number of road accidents during the last five years, with 4,141 cases, resulting in 2,151 deaths, 4,097 serious injuries and 7,271 minor injuries.

The remark was made known by H.E. Peng Ponea, Minister of Public Works and Transport at the launch of Prakas on road use and Prakas on safety distance for automobiles, held at the ministry office on Nov. 20, with the participation of some 300 representatives from the General Commissariat of National Police, Capital/Provincial Police Commissariats, Capital/Provincial Departments of Public Works and Transport, transport associations, transport companies and diving schools.

The main causes of road accidents in the past five years include excessive speedg (44 percent), disrespect for priority right (14 percent), drunk driving (13 percent), overtaking in dangerous conditions (12.5 percent), and failure to keep right (10 percent), H.E. Minister pointed out.

In the first ten months of this year, he added, 2,716 cases of road accidents were recorded, with1,286 deaths, 2,258 serious injuries and 1,382 minor injuries. Compared to the figures in the same period last year, the rate of traffic accidents jumped by 9 percent, the number of fatalities decreased by 11 percent, the number of serious injuries rose by 3 percent, the number of minor injuries increased 10 percent, while the failure to wear a helmet wearing dropped by 10 percent.

According to H.E. Peng Ponea, traffic accidents cost Cambodia over US$400 million a year, regardless of social hardship such as disabilities, orphans, widows, and poor family economy.