Professional Traffic Police Development

More that one Hundreds Traffic police and Officer from National Road Safety Committee and NGOs had join the workshop to improve the skill on implement, enforcement, education, Engineering on road safety,

3 days workshop will hold by Handicap International Belgium and Related Ministries to make stronger land traffic law in Cambodia to match the land traffic law enforcement in January 2009.
This workshop also present about helmet use and penalty too.

Development of National Traffic Law Enforcement Action Plan

Development of National Traffic Law Enforcement Action Plan

August 27-29, 2008
Venue: Cambodiana Hotel
In 2007, an estimated 1,545 people were killed and 7,150 severely injured in road accidents in Cambodia. Over the last five years, fatalities have more than doubled, and with 17.8 deaths per 10,000 vehicles, Cambodia has one of the highest fatality rate in the ASEAN region (RTAVIS 2007). Consequently, accidents and casualties cost the Royal Government of Cambodia USD 116 million dollars, according to 2004 Asia Development Bank Road Accident Costing survey.

To reduce road accidents, injuries and deaths, the Royal Government of Cambodia passed a landmark road traffic law in December 2006 which came into force in September 2007. Now, to improve the effectiveness of traffic law enforcement nationwide, the Ministry of Interior, and the National Police Commissariat in partnership with Handicap International Belgium and Global Road Safety Partnership are conducting two workshops from august 27-29^th, 2008 aimed at developing a national traffic law enforcement strategy and action plan.

The goals of the three-day workshop are:

· To ensure high-level national police support for the strengthening of traffic law enforcement;

· To comprehend and identify effective strategic approaches, plans and operations to traffic policing in Cambodia and develop a national enforcement action plan;

· To train traffic police officers on traffic law enforcement and good practice policing methods focused on reducing road fatalities.

Participants will include members of the Ministry of Interior, National Police Commissariat, Traffic Police, National Road Safety Committee, Land Transport Department, Ministry of Justice as well as concerned non-governmental organizations and private companies. The workshop will be facilitated by international police experts from Australia with extensive experience working with national police throughout Asia.

The national traffic law enforcement strategy and action plan will aim to set enforcement objectives, priorities, actions and timelines for the traffic police, and provide the basis for operational police trainings and resource procurement.

A key focus will be on developing and prioritizing enforcement strategies and measures that target proven accident and casualty risks such as non-helmet wearing, speeding, drink-driving, non-seatbelt wearing and overloading.

It is expected that following the approval of the national traffic law enforcement strategy and action plan by the Ministry of Interior, training programmes will be set up in late 2008 by the National Traffic Police targeting specific traffic offences as defined and prioritized in the enforcement action plan.

Annual report 2007 of road traffic accident in Cambodia

Apart of Annual report 2007 of road traffic accident in Cambodia showed that:
Age of casualties
- The average age of casualties is 28.
- People aged between 20 and 29 years old represent the highest percentage of fatalities.
- People aged between 25-29 years old account for 22% of fatalities although they represent only 8% of
population.
Gender of casualties
- Males account for 73% of casualties, although they account for 49% of the population.
- The number of male fatalities in 100,000 inhabitants is 4 times higher than female fatality representing the rate
(17.1 compared to 4.1). The highest male fatality rate is among 25-29 years old group (more than 50), more than
double compared to 2006.
- This over-representation of male casualties is important as most are of working age.
Occupation of casualties
- The economically active part of the population is the most affected by road traffic accidents.
- The percentages of fatalities by occupation follows a similar pattern as casualties: farmers represent the highest
percentage, they constitute the largest group of fatalities and casualties (29% of fatalities, 26% of casualties),
followed by workers and students.
- More than 45% of bicycle riders and almost 40% of pedestrians are students.

Road Traffic Accident in May 2007

Cambodia Road Traffic Accident and Victim Information System (RTAVIS) report May 2008. Here is a summary of the May results:

- A provisional number of 1,663 casualties were reported by the participating hospitals, health centres, private clinics and traffic police departments in the 24 reporting provinces. Among them, 479 were severely injured and 117 died. The number of fatalities has increased by 22% compared to May 2007.

- In Phnom Penh, 465 casualties were reported, corresponding to 34% decrease compared to the previous month. Among them, 25 died.

- 49% of casualties were due to speeding, while another 15% were dangerous overtaking and follow by alcohol abuse (12%).

- Pedestrians represent 15% of fatalities, while they represent only 8% of casualties.

- 22% of pedestrian casualties aged between 5 and 9 years old.

- 75% of fatalities suffered from head injuries.

- The number of fatalities on all Asian Highways decreased 27% compared to the previous month.

The annual report 2007 has been released since early of June 2008. It can also be found on the following website: www.roadsafetycambodia.info