Police have installed cameras to track vehicle speeds on Hun Sen Boulevard in Phnom Penh. Hean Rangsey
Police have installed cameras to measure vehicle speeds on Hun Sen Boulevard in Phnom Penh after a decision was made to implement a 40km/h speed limit.
Officials said the cameras and the speed limit are to prevent frequent accidents that have caused serious injury and death.
Ministry of Public Works and Transport spokesman Pal Chandara said on Sunday that limiting vehicle speeds to 40km/h will make the road safer and is the result of a study by the ministry and the National Police. The speed limit will take effect this month.
“The reason we set the speed limit to 40km/h is this road is very dangerous. If there is a crash it is usually very serious. Therefore, we’ve limited the speed to 40km/h and employ police officers to fine drivers,” he said.
He said authorities will continue to study and discuss whether that speed should be maintained or increased.
National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun said the goal is to protect lives. If the speed limit is not working out, the police will consider changing it again.
“I just want to clarify that this limit is to stop traffic accidents on the road. If we allow 80km/h, serious accidents will happen,” he said.
Meanchey district deputy police chief Chim Sopheak told The Post on Sunday that traffic enforcement is handled by the National Police. The police will enforce the law three to five days per week at different locations.
“We want motorbikes and vehicles travelling on the road to do so at a lower speed and respect the traffic law, especially big trucks delivering sand. When there are cameras they are afraid the police will stop them,” he said.
Kong Sovann, a technical adviser at the Ministry of Rural Development, said there must be a specific study of people who use the road. He said along with limiting the speed, this particular road also needs safety improvement.
He said if the road was safe, 60km/h would be fine. In the future, we have to look at the situation. If there are many students and schools and people walking, it could be reduced to 30km/h.
Sovann said the Hun Sen Boulevard is not safe enough to allow for higher speeds.
