COUNTRY REPORT ONROAD SAFETY IN CAMBODIA

Representative of Cambodian delegation

National Road Safety Committee

• In 2007, there were 9,449 traffic accidents, in which there were 27,403 road traffic casualties and 1,545 were fatalities (an average of 4.2 fatalities per day) and 7,150 were severely injured.

• 16,982 vehicles were involved in those accidents.

• There are 17.8 fatalities per 10,000 registered vehicles - a decrease of 2% compared to 2006 but an increase of13% compare to 2005.

• Cambodia has one of the highest fatality rates in the region.• Fatality rates of per 10,000 registered two-wheelers has

increased 30%. Conversely, four-wheelers has decreased 7%, compare to 2006.

Road Safety Situation (RTAVIS 2007)

• 50% of fatalities are due to speeding, and 19% are caused by alcohol abuse.

• 75% of road traffic fatalities are motorcycle riders. 39% suffer from head injuries.

• 96% of all motorcycle rider victims were not wearing helmets.

• 73% of all deaths occur among 15-44 years old.

Road Safety Situation (RTAVIS 2007)

In Cambodia, road accidents are caused by three main factors (RTAVIS 2007):

1. Human Factors (Road Users): 82% of road accident are caused by road users who violate the traffic law (speeding, driving carelessly, drunk driving, dangerous overtaking).

2. Road Environment (potholes, objects on roads, wet roads).3. Vehicle Defects: (brake failure, tire blow out).

Causes of Road Accidents

The Vehicle that overloads goods or passengers.

Royal Government of Cambodia: Legal and Institutional Framework for Road Safety:

– Establishment of National Road Safety Committee and its Secretariats in 2005.

– National Road Safety Action Plan and Policy.– Road Traffic Law (2007).– National Helmet Action Plan.

Government Progress

N.R.S.C.

NRSC General Secretariat

Provincial/municipal RS Committee

Provincial/municipalSecretariat

District/Khan RS team

Commune/Sangkat RS team

Dep. of admin and Finance

Dep. of Education and Dissemination

Dep. of Education, Dissemination and Training

Dep. of National and International Relation

National Road Safety Committee Structure

Government Progress

Role and Responsibility of National Road Safety Committee (defined in sub-decree 77):

1. To define road safety strategy, policy and activities for submission to government for approval.

2. To ensure effective implementation and monitor national road safety action plan.

3. To strengthen cooperation between implementing ministries and organizations.

4. To secure external and internal funding for road safety.

Government Progress

Role and Responsibility of Road Safety General Secretariat:

1. Implement all decisions by the RS Committee; prioritize activities for implementation.

2. Collect and arrange annual budget for Committee and Action Plan.

3. Assist to organize dissemination and trainings on traffic laws and regulations to the public, teachers and officials.

4. Collect statistics on road accidents and casualties. 5. Build capacity of road safety human resources.

6. Ensure regular coordination between road safety implementers in our jurisdiction.

Road Traffic Law Implementation

1. NRSC coordinates and manages Road Safety.2. Road Accident Data Systems.3. Road Safety Funding.4. Road Safety Audit and Hazardous Locations.5. Road Environment and Road Design.6. Road Safety Education for Children.7. Traffic Law and Regulations.8. Law Enforcement.9. Technical Inspection.10. Drivers Training.11. Emergency Assistance to Traffic Victims.12. Road Safety Public Campaigns.13. Partnerships with Private and Non Governmental

Organizations.14. Road Accident Costing Evaluation.15. Road Safety Research Institution.

Road Safety Action Plans

Action Point # 1: NRSC coordination and management of Road Safety

• Regular coordination meetings established, hosted by secretariat, between partners (Ministries, JICA, GRSP, HIB) to discuss and plan RS activities.

• Increased number of partners are collaborating with the NRSC (eg. road safety week), increased donations by partners for NRSC to conduct activities.

• NRSC playing greater advisory role by drafting document such as road safety policy and setting priority education messages to harmonize awareness work of partners.

• Successful application to ADB and GRSP for road safety funding in 2009-2010.

• Active involvement by a number of Ministries including MPWT, MoI, MoH, MoEYS, MoInformation, and municipalities and provincial departments.

RS Action Plan

Action Point # 2: Road Accident Data

• Road Traffic Accident Victim Information System (RTAVIS) covers all 24 provinces gathering data from the traffic police and health structures.

• Police have been trained on GPS and this data is now integrated into RTAVIS to correctly identify locations of accidents.

• Data is now being used by MPWT to identify black spots along main national roads.

RS Action Plan

RS Action Plan

Action Point # 6: Road Safety Education for Children

• National Primary School Curriculum (Grade 1-6) 575,000 students & 11,500 teachers (in 2007) RS as local life skill program.

• Lower Secondary School Curriculum (Grade 7-9) 270,000 students & 580 teachers (in 2007) RS as local life skill program.

• Secured funding for extension of curriculum into grade 10-12 (ADB).

RS Action Plan

Action Point # 7 and # 8: Traffic Law and Regulations, Enforcement

Disseminate and strengthen traffic police officials through out the country on new traffic law and procedure of its implementation.

- Prepare and encourage to adopt all supportive Sub decrees and other concerned regulations made by the RG making new traffic law practical and enforceable ( 5 sub decrees, 4 Prakas, 3 Instructions etc).

- Work out the master and detailed action plans for law enforcement.

- Successful Law Enforcement subject to:

* Existence of good law and regulations. * Proper Training to Law Enforcement Officers. * Sufficient Law enforcement equipment. * Proper Encouragement.

* Collaboration with all stakeholders.

RS Action PlanAction Point # 10: Drivers Training

• According to the traffic law, all citizens must acquire driving licenses (49cc up) - NRSC and Department of Land Transport are prioritizing motorcycle licenses for the public as well as educational campaigns on this issue. • Training and testing system are now set up throughout the country. To date, number of citizens have acquired licenses.

• Future educational campaigns on this issue will be linked to enforcement.

Action Point # 11 – Emergency Assistance to Traffic Victims

• MoH and WHO conducting assessment of capacity of health system to deal with accident victims to improve pre-hospital/hospital care, ambulance service – NRSC and HIB providing road safety-related input.

• Developing guidelines and provide training for “first aid at scene of an accident” for police along national roads.

RS Action Plan

RS Action PlanAction Point # 12: Road Safety Awareness Campaigns

• Since 2004, awareness campaigns on TV, radio, print media on road safety messages (helmet wearing, speeding, don’t drink and drive, overloading).

• In 2007-08, awareness on messages related to traffic law (TV/radio spots, educational drama, newspaper ads, distribution of materials etc..).

• Important events conducted by NRSC and partners include Traffic Victim Remembrance Day on November 20th, 2007 and National Road Safety week before Khmer New Year.

• awareness campaigns increasingly coordinated by National Road Safety Committee.

Action Point # 13 – Partnerships with Private and NGOs

The National Road Safety Committee is prioritizing more effective partnerships with:

• HIB• JICA• GRSP• Cambodian Red Cross• Local NGOs (DATe and CRY)• TOTAL, Cambodia• Infinity Insurance• Honda• Caltex

Regular coordination and planning meetings established to strengthen partnerships and collaborations.

RS Action Plan

Private and NGOs Activities

1. ADB Road Safety Project 2009-2011 – activities on education, awareness, training.

2. Global Road Safety Partnership – activities on increasing helmet wearing rates through education, enforcement; helmet standards.

3. RTAVIS will be handovered in 2009-2010 from HIB to MoI, MoH and NRSC.

4. Working with Ministry of Environment to develop road safety component in the Environmentally-Sustainable Transport Strategy.

Next Steps

• Lack of financial resources – regular external funding.

• Lack of human resources – staff are not full-time and lack technical knowledge of road safety.

• Road Safety is not properly understood by key decision-makers and public.

• Road safety is not prioritized by major donors.

• Properly enforcing the new traffic law is challenging.

Key Challenges for NRSC

THANK YOU