The number of traffic accidents on the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway during the first six months of this year have increased as a result of careless driving and speeding.

According to the report given by Brigadier General Heng Sovann, deputy director of Department of Traffic Police and Public Order, who is in charge of managing traffic on the expressway, 115 traffic accidents have occurred resulting in six deaths and 42 injuries.

In January alone, there were 17 traffic accidents causing three deaths and injuring five other people.

In the following month, there were nine incidents resulting in one death and six injuries, while in March there were two deaths and 12 injuries.

April saw 22 traffic accidents causing 14 injuries and May had 25 incidents causing two injuries. June had 28 cases resulting in three injuries.

Brig Gen Sovann pointed out that the number of accidents increased in June because of the wet season and rain making the road surface slippery and more dangerous, especially when drivers were speeding.

Another danger was herds of cattle wandering onto the expressway which have broken through compromised road barriers whose foundations had been weakened by water.

“There are times when about 20 to 30 cattle can be found wandering along the expressway. Recently, two luxury cars crashed into a herd of cattle causing serious damage to the cars and one animal died. However, authorities couldn’t find the livestocks’ owner who is responsible for the damage,” he said.

“Traffic police, expressway officials, and local authorities went yesterday to educate people who live near the expressway about how to manage their cattle. The education also emphasised where responsibility laid for people who let cattle wander onto the expressway and caused traffic accidents,” he said.

Brig Gen Sovann added that livestock owners let their cattle graze along the roadside. However, if the animals get onto the expressway and cause an accident then the owners never claim their cattle because they don’t want to take responsibility for the damage.

Road Traffic Safety Department director Prum Vantha said yesterday that drivers fail to obey traffic laws, speed and drive down the wrong side of the road.

Vantha said: “Drivers fail to understand the road rules and are ignorant of the expressway layout and driving conditions. Some vehicles are poorly maintained and not inspected before being driven. All these factors lead to serious traffic accidents”.

All fatalities involved speeding and losing control of the vehicle.

Minister of Public Works and Transport and other traffic experts also helped to educate road users about safety factors and measures to prevent traffic accidents.

• Tags: Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, traffic accidents