Road Crash in September 2009

In September 2009, a provisional number of 1,453 casualties resulting from 724 crashes were reported by the participating hospitals, health centres, and traffic police departments in the 24 reporting provinces. Among them, 131 were fatalities and 548 were severely injured. 1,206 vehicles were involved in those crashes. Compared to September 2008, the number of fatalities increased by 2%.
In Phnom Penh, only Calmette and Kuntha Bopha hospital[1] and traffic police reported to RCVIS with total casualties of 184. Among them, 30 died and 72 were severely injured.
Key findings:
o General
- 27% of driver casualties were suspected of alcohol abuse during crashes. Among them, 49% aged between 20 and 29 years old.
- Pedestrian represented second vulnerable road user in road crash (9% of total casualties) after motorbike riders. 46% of them were less than 10 years old.
- 45% of crashes that hit object off road, occurred on curve road.
- Almost half of serious crashes (49%) were hit and run incidents (which drivers intentionally escaped from scene, right after the crashes).

o Pchum Ben (16th to 22nd September 2009)
- 556 injuries and 52 fatalities were recorded during Pchum Ben. The average number of fatalities during this seven-day holiday was almost double the average of the days in the month (7.4 compared to 4.4). The number of casualties and fatalities decreased compared to Pchum Ben last year (641 were injured and 41 died).
- 65% of all road crash fatalities were aged between 15-29 years old. 82% of these were motorcycle users.
- The daily peak of injuries and deaths was on September 19th, the 2nd Pchum Ben day, 151 and 19 respectively.

o Motorbike Helmet Wearing
- 249 of motorbike casualties were wearing a helmet at the time of the crashes, this number increased 41% compared to the previous month.
- The number of student casualties wearing a helmet at the time of crashes increased significantly between August and September.