Students ride their bikes out of school without wearing helmets. Heng Chivoan
The Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation and the Department of Land Transport recently held discussions about an AIP pilot initiative which will teach the theory and practice of driving small motorcycles to targeted groups from schools, factories and state institutions.
Following the December 19 meeting, the department agreed in principle to support a February course which will train the instructors from the groups, who will impart what they acquire from the training to workers, students and civil servants.
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At present, no driver’s licence is required to operate a motorcycle with an engine capacity of up to 125cc. The AIP hope that training will contribute to a reduction in traffic accidents.
AIP warned that workers and students who drive 125cc motorcycles are over-represented in traffic accident statistics.
AIP country director Kim Pagna confirmed on December 20 that the department has agreed in principle to the training course, although administrative procedures must be followed and permission sought from the head of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport before the February courses can go ahead.
The foundation intends to run four courses, which will train more than 100 instructors.
He added that although under current laws the drivers of 125cc motorcycles are not required to hold a driver’s license, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has ordered a study of whether the laws should be amended. He noted that a thorough study will take some time to complete.
“Because drivers of 125cc motorcycles are not required to hold a driver’s license, several serious challenges have arisen. They do not learn the meaning of traffic signals and signs, or the theory of traffic laws. In addition, they do not learn how to ride a motorcycle from professional instructors. They just learn from their brothers or friends and then start driving on the streets,” he explained.
Although traffic accident statistics are on the decline year-on-year, the training courses aim to reduce them even, he said.
Last August, Sokha called on relevant institutions to examine the possibility of requiring driver’s licences for motorcycles with an engine capacity of 60cc or above, in a bid to “reduce the road toll”.
“In order to reduce the accident rate, we should consider discussing this concept with the transport ministry, as it will reduce the speeds unlicensed drivers can travel at,” he explained at the time.
He urged all the capital-provincial police chiefs to tighten the enforcement of traffic laws in order to prevent accidents, noting that at present four to five people are killed on the country’s roads each day.
