A city on the move
By CARE
Motorbikes are the main transportation in Cambodia (photo: Sabine Wilke)My mother told me to be highly careful while travelling in Germany, especially whenever I want to cross the road. She doesn’t know how admiringly safe the traffic in Germany is. What she only knows is the complicated situation of the traffic in Cambodia. Traffic accidents are a big concern of the people. Me, for example, I always bear in mind the fear when I am on the wheel. There are many times that I see a traffic accident happening, it is more than common on Cambodian roads. Most of the accidents are deliberately caused by drunken drivers, over speeding and disobeying of rules.
Road traffic accidents remain a big discussion in Cambodia. This year, for example, in August alone, at least 20 people instantly died from traffic accidents in Phnom Penh while dozens of others got minor and major injures. This figure notably increases if compared to the previous months. Every day, three people reportedly die and about 100 others get injured on the roads. This statistic automatically pushes Cambodia to the top of a sad statistic of traffic accidents among countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The components of accidents
The traffic is crowded in Phnom Penh, a small capital with over one million inhabitants. Road constructions do not meet the requirement of the rapid increase of vehicles. The poor condition of the roads, moreover, has subsequently caused trouble for the drivers. I often miss my class because of traffic jams, and I could not speed up as the rule allowed. The diversity of vehicles such as taxis, motor taxis, trucks, tuk-tuks (a motor vehicle with three wheels used as a taxi) and bikes is another reason of accidents and congestions. Wanting to go first and a lack of tolerance, is what the most drivers always seem to think. And this normally produces either an accident or a traffic jam. I do want these drivers to keep in mind the beautiful sentences for secure driving: safety first or even more to the point: less speed.
Many Germans take their bicycle to go to work (photo: Channy Chheng)
Without a license
One more thing is that some people, who have a car, especially those living in the countryside, like to teach their children how to drive instead of sending them to driving school. Some of those so-called learners don’t even know the meaning of traffic signs. I guarantee that what they have mainly learned from their fathers is just how to gear up and down. I don’t want to see those kinds of drivers anymore.
Travellers’ condition
The situation of transportation somehow is far beyond my thought, and I almost do not believe my eyes when I see a small taxi overloading with its passengers up to seven or eight people. Can you imagine the situation? The car is totally packed and no seat belts are there to keep the passengers safe! Sometimes, when a traffic accident happens, the two sides would like to settle the problem or negotiate the compensation on the scene rather than going to the police for help. This way, it is cheaper and hassle-free for both parties to get out of the situation. It usually goes like this: The one who is responsible for the accident has to pay money. But not only to the injured people, he also has to bribe the police in order not to report the case.
What can we do?
Everyone in Cambodia likes to say: Accidents are unpredictable. Yes, I agree with that. They are unpredictable, but nonetheless avoidable. No one wants to meet or create an accident. But it happens just in the one minute while the driver is careless. I do like the traffic law practised in Germany – the strong has to respect the weak. The people who cycle are always prioritized. It is a strong method already to reduce the traffic accidents. Sadly, Cambodia is very far away from this reality.
Tags: Asia, Cambodia, Cambodian Diary
