Noting that heavy lorries are often involved in serious accidents, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha proposed a ban on such vehicles during major national festivals to reduce incidents and traffic congestion.

Sokha instructed the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) to study the feasibility of prohibiting heavy vehicles from travelling at certain times during major national celebrations such as Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben and the Water Festival, in a video released on his social media last night, August 13.

“If possible, we should create a yearly calendar for large national festivals. For example, we could set specific dates during which lorry trailers are not allowed to travel. It wouldn't be fair to issue a travel ban only three days in advance,” he said.

He explained that setting up a schedule would make it easier for lorry owners to have enough time to prepare for the delivery of goods, saying the initiative would be based on accurate data from past traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles during national holidays.

“If we inform them a year in advance, they can prepare for transportation. Currently, during national festivals, we’ve seen multiple traffic accidents, often involving four or five fatalities in a single incident,” Sokha said, adding that lorries often cause accidents when people are travelling to and from their hometowns during the holidays.

“This is based on our experience. We have clear data and evidence to support it.

“If we establish a calendar to ban transport a few days before the New Year, we can manage the situation and reduce accidents to some extent. The goal is to achieve a five per cent annual reduction, as outlined in the NRSC’s 10-year strategic plan,” he added.

At least 37 people were killed and 88 others injured in a total of 64 road accidents across the country during the four-day traditional New Year period from April 13-16 this year.

Kim Pagna, country director of the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, supported the initiative to set up a schedule to ban heavy vehicles because he observed that lorries were involved in traffic accidents, both on weekdays and during major national holidays.

"Because they are heavy, when there is an accident, the situation is serious, causing numerous casualties and tragic scenes on the roadways," he said.

He believes that if possible, a seven-day ban could be imposed – two days before and two days after the festival – because some people travel to their home villages earlier, and others return after the festival. He said the other three days should be prohibited during the festival itself.

Pagna added that another option would be to allow heavy vehicles to operate only at night when traffic is lighter. However, he noted they should be prohibited from entering the city or required to take detours.

“The government is examining the possibility of testing this approach by selecting specific routes based on accident frequency data or choosing a few provinces to pilot the test. This will help identify challenges, strengths, weaknesses and successes before implementing it on a larger scale in the coming years,” he said.

However, he suggested that state institutions and stakeholders explore ways to mitigate potential losses or provide incentives to lorry owners affected by the ban, encouraging them to participate willingly and cooperatively.

Additionally, Pagna said the traffic law should be strictly enforced, and the ban on heavy vehicle traffic in Phnom Penh, particularly during rush hours – such as when students and workers are commuting – should be upheld.

He emphasised that education, training and outreach for lorry drivers, especially before major national holidays, should be conducted to remind them to follow the laws more closely. On the other hand, he said educating road users about safety rules when travelling near heavy vehicles should also be included, as some accidents are caused by cyclists, motorcyclists and car drivers.

Ministry of Public Works and Transport spokesman Phorn Rim said that data on the number of lorries was not yet available.

However, he noted that 37,388 vehicles were inspected for technical compliance from April 20 to May 19. Additionally, 112,649 other vehicles were inspected during the first quarter of 2024, from January 1 to March 31. He said these inspections included both small and heavy vehicles.

Transport ministry secretary of state and NRSC secretary-general Min Manvy could not be reached for comment on August 14.