Traffic Police man a night time checkpoint on Hun Sen Boulevard. Phnom Penh Police
Hun Sen Boulevard will soon be equipped with metal median barriers to separate oncoming traffic. The installation follows a series of fatal accidents in recent weeks. The accidents were attributed to excessive speed and driving under the influence.
During the January 23 closing ceremony of the annual meeting of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that after consultations and an inspection of the road in question, the Phnom Penh municipal administration has agreed to install barriers along the road.
“This afternoon, Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng approved the installation of barriers,” he said.
“However, even with barriers, if people drive recklessly, they can still crash and hurt themselves. Therefore, careful driving and strict adherence to the law are essential,” he added.
The prime minister noted that while strict enforcement of drunk driving had temporarily reduced the traffic accidents caused by alcohol, these incidents have happened again in recent weeks. He urged continued efforts to strengthen enforcement, particularly after dark and during the Chinese and Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebrations.
“Provincial and municipal authorities have worked to control instances of drunk driving. This has decreased it somewhat, but in recent weeks, we’ve seen cases rise again. Please monitor this closely, especially with the upcoming New Year celebrations, as drunk driving, particularly at night, remains a significant issue,” he said.
Manet instructed the transport ministry to continue collaborating with the Ministry of Interior, especially the National Police, to enhance road safety and enforce traffic laws. He emphasised using measures such as demerit points on driver’s licenses and fines to encourage compliance and reduce the rate of traffic accidents.
“Although drunk-driving accidents have decreased, the overall number of traffic accidents remains high. In Cambodia, since the war, traffic accidents have been the leading cause of death,” he added.
Traffic police in Phnom Penh have continued law enforcement efforts on Hun Sen Boulevard, also known as the 60-metre road, including using speed radar guns to detect violations. Authorities have found numerous vehicles breaching traffic regulations.
Transport minister Ponea Peng also addressed the meeting.
He reported that in 2024, the ministry registered approximately 370,000 vehicles, including around 310,000 motorcycles and 55,000 cars. Additionally, about 30,000 vehicles personalised and specialised license plates were registered, generating over $18 million in revenue. Approximately 3,000 electric vehicles were also registered.
The ministry issued around 110,000 driver’s licenses in 2024, including approximately 90,000 motorcycle licenses and nearly 14,000 car licenses.
Furthermore, around 460,000 vehicles underwent technical inspections, 2.85 million vehicles were checked for overloading, and over 1,000 were fined. Approximately 55,000 modified vehicles were inspected, with about 14,000 found to violate technical standards.
