Transport minister Peng Ponea made three commitments to road safety at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety. Transport ministry
To protect children and youth from traffic accidents, Cambodia has committed to creating safe zones at all schools across the Kingdom by 2027.
The goal was announced by Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea, as he addressed the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Ponea, who also serves as vice-president of the National Road Safety Committee, is leading a Cambodian delegation to the February 18 to 20 conference, which is being attended by 2,500 participants from 193 countries, the transport ministry announced.
In addition, the minister also shared Cambodia’s plans to implement the core tools of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
“By 2030, Cambodia commits to reducing the number of casualties and fatalities caused by traffic accidents by at least 50 per cent,” he told the assembled dignitaries.
The theme of this year’s conference is “One World, One Road: Commit to Life”, and will see government officials, along with representatives of civil society organisations, educational institutions and the private sector discuss key topics, including the promotion of road safety and effective management of traffic accident data.
It has three main objectives: sharing experiences related to effective strategies to improve road safety, reinforcing countries' commitments to road safety and furthering cooperation for road safety in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, in line with the 2021-2030 decade of action.
In August 2023, Cambodian officials discussed the creation of road safety zones to enhance traffic safety within the country.
This included a study tour to Vietnam, where government officials observed the establishment of traffic safety zones around schools, followed by a workshop to share experiences from the visit.
Safe zones have already been established around several schools in Phnom Penh and various provinces.
A Kampong Chhnang high school will soon become the first in the Kingdom to establish a “Traffic Safety Garden”.
The new facility will allow students to experience realistic traffic conditions – and enhance their understanding of traffic laws – without venturing out onto the roads.
