United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt encouraged more participation from members of the public on improving road and traffic safety.

Todt met with Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol on November 25 to discuss road and traffic safety in Cambodia during Todt’s trip to the Kingdom this week, according to the public works and transport ministry.

“Road safety requires participation not only at the leadership levels. The main points of focus include road safety mainstreaming, education, installing speed cameras, strengthening driving license testing, helmet quality and strengthening law enforcement against offences such as talking on the phone while driving as well as drunk driving,” Todt was quoted as saying.

Chanthol had briefed the UN special envoy on the situation of road and traffic safety in Cambodia, such as the increasing number of vehicles on the roads and traffic accidents, and the road safety campaigns involving distribution of helmets and reflective stickers.

He also said that Cambodia has also encouraged the public to use electric vehicles, while authorities launched a driving rules app with points deduction and beefed up driver’s education.

“All of these show the government’s efforts and attention to improving road safety, with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in charge of these works,” he said.

One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 is to reduce road and traffic casualties by 50 per cent, as set by the World Health Organization.