Road accidents one of the leading causes of death in Cambodia
Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in Cambodia, according to a joint report from the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) and the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).
You can see the UNDP report here.
How many people are injured in traffic accidents every year in Cambodia?
According to the joint report, in 2019, there were around 13,700 injuries due to traffic accidents and over 2,000 deaths, an average of 5.4 deaths per day. Three-quarters of the victims were motorbike drivers, with the balance being made up of pedestrians, families and truck drivers. The report said most deaths occurred in Phnom Penh on main national roads.
According to the report, traffic accidents increased by almost 25 percent from 2009-2019.
Economically, road deaths and injuries cost the country $466.8 million during the same year, or almost two percent of the national GDP, with most of the estimated losses being related to death and loss of earnings.
Emergency responses were extremely lacking in many cases. The report noted that 35 percent of those who perished received medical care. In addition, only 10 percent of those fatally injured were able to reach a hospital in less than 30 minutes.
Why are there so many traffic injuries in Cambodia
The report highlighted what it called the fatal fours – namely driving under the influence (of alcohol or drugs), speeding, ignoring traffic rules, and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
Cambodia’s rapid economic growth over the last ten years has seen it move into the lower-middle-income country category, with more wealth meaning more cars. Alas, this has not been coupled with a change in culture when it comes to peoples’ attitudes to driving, with things such as drunk-driving, or using a cellphone at the wheel carrying next to no social stigma in comparison to other countries.
Cars one of the leading causes of death in Cambodia – how to change the culture?
The NRSC has said they will analyze the report to work out a way to help reduce fatalities. Nick Beresford, the UNDP representative in Cambodia said: “It’s not really about being young or being male. It’s about alcohol, drugs, ignoring traffic rules, and phone use while driving. In short, it’s how you behave that determines loss of life in traffic accidents.”
Essentially there needs to be a change in culture when it comes to driving in Cambodia, something that hopefully all vested parties can help the country to achieve.
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Author: Adam Reeves
An avid traveler and telecommunications expert, Adam has explored over 25 countries, immersing himself in their cultures to discover the best they offer. His passion for connecting people extends from his professional life to his adventures abroad.
