Life or Lifestyle

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011120753215/LIFT/putting-the-drivers-license-into-practise.html

It is not weird to hear that there was a car accident at that place or there was motto crashed at this place. Likely, 4.7 people are fatalities injured every day because of traffic accidence.

According to Annul Report 2010 of Handicap international Belgium, in general, fatalities in 2010 had a similar pattern in term of age categories as in 2009. The average age of fatalities was 32 years old. The peak of fatalities was between 20 to 24 years old. Compared to 2009, this age group increased by 7%.

Additionally, among driver fatalities, high proportions of drivers of motorbikes, 46%, passengers’ vehicles, 38%, good vehicles, 33% and agricultural vehicles, 46%, were between 20 to 29 years old. Around 30% of vehicles drivers aged 5 to 19 years old and other 32% were older than 54 years old.

Sem Panhavuth, Road Crash and Victim Information Manager of Handicap International Belgium, also explained that most the dead, their heads were crashed down because youth do not want to wear helmet or obey the traffic law or sign.

So far, there are many car driving schools opened and waited for people to study driving. Regardless with Yellow Pages of Cambodia, there are 44 listing of driving schools and instructors but we do not k now how many more are out of this website.

On the contrary, we still see more traffic accident occur almost everywhere. Oung Sovannary, junior at International Languages Institute, said that she always surfs internet to get more traffic information in order to protest her self. “Not only good resident but also good driver, I can protest my life from bad fortunate occurred by traffic accident”

Unlikely, her friends seem not to pay their attention on this issue. “It is not good at all for my friends who do not care about traffic signs or traffic education. They seem not care about their life.” She says.

Sambath Dany, a receptionist at the 23 October Driving School in Phnom Penh, told The post since May 2011, that she is not aware of corruption or bribery being used to get driving license at the school. "There is no copying and cheating during the exam because there are many cameras in exam rooms." She added that her school is now offering traffic laws free to public from Monday to Friday to raise their awareness and help people avoid accidents.

Similarly, Phim Sokhorm, who works as traffic policeman, also told The post on May 2011 that people do not respect the traffic laws partly due to a weak understanding of what they are. He continued that people who buy a license might be able to get form place to place, but they don’t know the meaning of the signs and lights, so perhaps they don’t violate the law intentionally. "I not only fine them but also educate them on traffic laws," he said about how he deals with offenders.

In addition, most of fatalities injured, 81%, occurred by male from age 20 to 24 years old, regarding to Sem Panhavuth, “I think if youth or any people wear helmet correctly, they will not face such kind of problem but they care about their hair style more than their life.”