Phnom Penh. April 28, 2009.

In January 2009, 156 persons were killed and 733 were severely injured on the roads of Cambodia. During this month, the Road Traffic Accident Victim Information System (RTAVIS) reports that 45% of casualties suffered from head injury, while in December 2008 the figure was 48% - a notable decrease.

In 2008, motorcycle crashes and casualties represent an alarmingly high percentage of overall accidents and casualties in Cambodia. More than 70% of the total number of casualties and almost 60% of fatalities involved motorcycles.

The primary reason for the noticeable decline in January is attributed to the multi-stakeholder helmet awareness campaign coupled with enforcement of the helmet wearing law by the Traffic Police on January 1^st 2009 nationwide, and the subsequent increase in helmet wearing rates.

Prior to helmet enforcement, a survey conducted by Handicap International Belgium (HIB) in June 2008 showed that, in Phnom Penh, only 24% of motorcycle riders (driver and passengers) wore a helmet. As a consequence, head injuries accounted for 48% of total injuries in December 2008.

A follow-up helmet wearing rate survey was conducted during the first week of February 2009, one month after helmet enforcement, which showed that the rate among motorcycle riders increased to 56% - more than double the rate before the helmet enforcement.

Prior to the helmet awareness campaign, which was conducted by HIB from November to December 2008, only 67% respondents claimed to wear helmets but only 30% admitted to actually doing so at all times. However, results of the post survey in February 2009 showed that the usage level has increased significantly. 98% claimed they wore helmets and 80% do so at all times.

The sample taken after the campaign implied that there has been a shift in perception about the benefits of wearing helmets. More of them think about protecting their life (up from 9% to as high as 48%) and protecting themselves from several types of injuries, rather than only protection from the rain, wind and dust.

Nine out of ten respondents believe that more stringent law enforcement will increase the incidence of helmet wearing, and that there should be a punishment for disobedience.

Combination of awareness raising, education on helmet usage together with enforcement elements contributed to the knowledge and helmet wearing rate increase amongst people, mainly road users. As a consequence, a noticeable drop is witnessed in head injuries numbers in Cambodia.