A Cambodian man pedals a three-wheeled pedicab on a road in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, March 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Showing posts with label Mandatory helmet use. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mandatory helmet use. Show all posts
Friday, March 27, 2009
Want a cyclo ride? How about wearing that helmet, huh?
A Cambodian man pedals a three-wheeled pedicab on a road in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, March 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Police Begin Enforcement of Helmet Law
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington
02 January 2009
Washington
02 January 2009
Phnom Penh police fined 236 motorists for failure to wear helmets Thursday, the first day of new enforcement measures, a top official said.
"This morning, we just fined those who were not wearing helmets, and later on we will fine any motorist without a rear-view mirror and without a license plate," said Col. Chev Hak, deputy chief of Phnom Penh traffic police, as a guest on "Hello VOA" Thursday.
Chev Hak estimated that about 85 percent of Phnom Penh motorists were now wearing helmets, following threats of stricter enforcement by Prime Minister Hun Sen last month.
An estimated 179 people had died in 700 traffic accidents, about one person every other day, Chev Hak said, making it the leading killer of Cambodians.Hun Sen called traffic deaths a worse scourge than landmines or AIDS.
Chev Hak appealed to motorists to wear their helmets and not try to outrun police blockades, as this too was dangerous.
"If the police fine you, its only 3,000 riel," about $0.80, he said, "but if you turn away, causing an accident, there will be a lot of money spent."
"This morning, we just fined those who were not wearing helmets, and later on we will fine any motorist without a rear-view mirror and without a license plate," said Col. Chev Hak, deputy chief of Phnom Penh traffic police, as a guest on "Hello VOA" Thursday.
Chev Hak estimated that about 85 percent of Phnom Penh motorists were now wearing helmets, following threats of stricter enforcement by Prime Minister Hun Sen last month.
An estimated 179 people had died in 700 traffic accidents, about one person every other day, Chev Hak said, making it the leading killer of Cambodians.Hun Sen called traffic deaths a worse scourge than landmines or AIDS.
Chev Hak appealed to motorists to wear their helmets and not try to outrun police blockades, as this too was dangerous.
"If the police fine you, its only 3,000 riel," about $0.80, he said, "but if you turn away, causing an accident, there will be a lot of money spent."
Friday, December 26, 2008
Cost of Helmet a Small Price: Expert
By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
Original report from Washington
25 December 2008
As many as 90 percent of fatalities in road accidents are caused by head injuries, highlighting the importance of helmets, a safety expert said Thursday.
A helmet might cost $10, but it is worth it, said Sann Socheata, manager of the road safety program for Handicap International Belgium.
"There should be thorough thinking, that is it $10 that can cure one's head if there is an injury by road accident," she said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday urged motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, calling traffic deaths a worse tragedy than AIDS or land mines and reiterating a no-exception helmet law.
Sann Socheata said Thursday that riders who are ticketed by police, who often impose unofficial fines, should obtain a receipt.
A helmet might cost $10, but it is worth it, said Sann Socheata, manager of the road safety program for Handicap International Belgium.
"There should be thorough thinking, that is it $10 that can cure one's head if there is an injury by road accident," she said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday urged motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, calling traffic deaths a worse tragedy than AIDS or land mines and reiterating a no-exception helmet law.
Sann Socheata said Thursday that riders who are ticketed by police, who often impose unofficial fines, should obtain a receipt.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Hun Sen is “Cambodia chauffeur” [or is it “chauffard*”?]
Cambodia's one-eye "chauffard*" (Photo: Bloomberg)22 Dec 2008
By Ky Soklim Cambodge Soir Hebdo Translated from French by Tola Ek Click here to read the article in French
*Chauffard: French word for reckless driver
During a speech given at a distribution of diplomas at the Pedagogy University in Phnom Penh on 22 December, Hun Sen talked about various current issues on internal politics.
While announcing that his speech was the last one for this year, the prime minister talked about various issues related to recent news, and retail gasoline price was also a topic he touched on. “If I yell against high prices, then they will drop. But, if I don’t say anything, they do not move. Therefore, I am asking the national companies Tela and Sokimex to make another effort, a new lowering of the price will be a year-end gift to me. It is more difficult to make the request to foreign companies such as Total and Caltex. I am thinking of negotiating directly with all the companies soon, on the policy of gasoline price. This is important because it influences the cost of transportations.”
Hun Sen then turned to traffic road safety and especially on the application of the law for mandatory helmet use, a law which will be strictly observed by the cops starting 01 January 2009. “I am appealing to all Cambodians, all motorcycle drivers, to wear helmet at 100% to avoid a large number of fatal accidents. Helmet wholesalers should not take advantage [of this issue] to increase their price. The cost of traffic accidents is higher for the state than the fight against AIDS and demining. Civil servants should set example and they must all wear helmets. Each ministry must control its personnel and check that the law is respected. If civil servants do not respect the law, how can we ask others to do it?” Hun Sen said.
Hun Sen also touched upon control and repression measures against gambling parlors. “Since my declarations made in the past weeks, gambling parlors equipped with unauthorized slot machines, i.e. outside of hotels, have been shut down. Now, we are proceeding to the control of the nationality of gamblers who are using these parlors which are prohibited to Cambodian nationals. Some parlors are protected by high-ranking officials. Those who are identified as responsible for these actions will be demoted from their positions,” Hun Sen threatened. He also discussed about the need to control betting parlors and karaoke institutions as the latter are sometimes linked to drug trafficking.
Hun Sen finally talked about his political longevity. “I was the youngest PM, at 32-year-old. I am still the one who remains the longest in this position: 24 years. At the end of this mandate, it will be 29 years. It is certain that I will again be the candidate in 2013 since the opposition is so weak. But, being PM is not simple. If a bad decision is taken, the entire country will suffer from it. Cambodians know that their chauffeur, even with only one eye, he pays attention to his driving,” Hun Sen ended by mentioning about one of his eyes he lost more than 30 years ago.
While announcing that his speech was the last one for this year, the prime minister talked about various issues related to recent news, and retail gasoline price was also a topic he touched on. “If I yell against high prices, then they will drop. But, if I don’t say anything, they do not move. Therefore, I am asking the national companies Tela and Sokimex to make another effort, a new lowering of the price will be a year-end gift to me. It is more difficult to make the request to foreign companies such as Total and Caltex. I am thinking of negotiating directly with all the companies soon, on the policy of gasoline price. This is important because it influences the cost of transportations.”
Hun Sen then turned to traffic road safety and especially on the application of the law for mandatory helmet use, a law which will be strictly observed by the cops starting 01 January 2009. “I am appealing to all Cambodians, all motorcycle drivers, to wear helmet at 100% to avoid a large number of fatal accidents. Helmet wholesalers should not take advantage [of this issue] to increase their price. The cost of traffic accidents is higher for the state than the fight against AIDS and demining. Civil servants should set example and they must all wear helmets. Each ministry must control its personnel and check that the law is respected. If civil servants do not respect the law, how can we ask others to do it?” Hun Sen said.
Hun Sen also touched upon control and repression measures against gambling parlors. “Since my declarations made in the past weeks, gambling parlors equipped with unauthorized slot machines, i.e. outside of hotels, have been shut down. Now, we are proceeding to the control of the nationality of gamblers who are using these parlors which are prohibited to Cambodian nationals. Some parlors are protected by high-ranking officials. Those who are identified as responsible for these actions will be demoted from their positions,” Hun Sen threatened. He also discussed about the need to control betting parlors and karaoke institutions as the latter are sometimes linked to drug trafficking.
Hun Sen finally talked about his political longevity. “I was the youngest PM, at 32-year-old. I am still the one who remains the longest in this position: 24 years. At the end of this mandate, it will be 29 years. It is certain that I will again be the candidate in 2013 since the opposition is so weak. But, being PM is not simple. If a bad decision is taken, the entire country will suffer from it. Cambodians know that their chauffeur, even with only one eye, he pays attention to his driving,” Hun Sen ended by mentioning about one of his eyes he lost more than 30 years ago.
Hun Sen Warns of Strict Helmet Policy
By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh
22 December 2008
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday called on motorcycle riders to wear helmets “100 percent” to avoid the hundreds of traffic fatalities that occur each year.
“If you want to drive your motorcycle without a fine, you must wear your helmet from now on,” he said during a graduate student ceremony in Phnom Penh, “to protect your life and to avoid road accidents as well as property damage.”
More the 1,500 people were reported killed in traffic accidents in 2007, nearly double the number in 2003. An Asian Development Bank survey in 2003 counted 824 dead in road accidents, estimating a $116 million cost to the country.
“The traffic law will be fully implemented and fined from Jan. 1, 2009, because the road accidents causes the loss of human life more and more,” Hun Sen said, calling traffic fatalities a “bigger disaster” than AIDS and land mines.
The prime minister also called on civil servants, police and commune and village leaders to wear helmets as an example, while urging helmet vendors to keep prices low.
Travel on Cambodian roadways without a helmet is punishable by a 3,000 riel, or $0.70, fine. By contrast, a helmet can cost between $10 and $20.
Meas Chan Dy, coordinator for helmet safety at Handicap International Belgium, called helmets “a very good measure for reducing road accidents,” and he urged strong implementation of all traffic laws for all vehicles.
Brig. Gen. Tho Khan, director of traffic order for the Ministry of Interior, said Monday police would strengthen the traffic law “with efficiency and effectiveness.”
“More importantly, we must introduce people to understanding the law and help protect their lives and property,” he said.
“If you want to drive your motorcycle without a fine, you must wear your helmet from now on,” he said during a graduate student ceremony in Phnom Penh, “to protect your life and to avoid road accidents as well as property damage.”
More the 1,500 people were reported killed in traffic accidents in 2007, nearly double the number in 2003. An Asian Development Bank survey in 2003 counted 824 dead in road accidents, estimating a $116 million cost to the country.
“The traffic law will be fully implemented and fined from Jan. 1, 2009, because the road accidents causes the loss of human life more and more,” Hun Sen said, calling traffic fatalities a “bigger disaster” than AIDS and land mines.
The prime minister also called on civil servants, police and commune and village leaders to wear helmets as an example, while urging helmet vendors to keep prices low.
Travel on Cambodian roadways without a helmet is punishable by a 3,000 riel, or $0.70, fine. By contrast, a helmet can cost between $10 and $20.
Meas Chan Dy, coordinator for helmet safety at Handicap International Belgium, called helmets “a very good measure for reducing road accidents,” and he urged strong implementation of all traffic laws for all vehicles.
Brig. Gen. Tho Khan, director of traffic order for the Ministry of Interior, said Monday police would strengthen the traffic law “with efficiency and effectiveness.”
“More importantly, we must introduce people to understanding the law and help protect their lives and property,” he said.
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