Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Wednesday urged the installation of signs, traffic lights and security cameras along main roads in the country to help the police reduce traffic law offences.

Speaking in Battambang province, Sar Kheng attributed the high accident rate on local roads to the fact that many streets lack proper signage and traffic lights.

“We cannot rely solely on traffic police to keep the roads safe. Having proper signs, traffic lights and security cameras eases the work of the police and helps them enforce the law more effectively and transparently,” he said.

Sar Kheng pointed out that the government has declared 2020 a watershed year in the fight against road accidents.

He said reducing the number of traffic accidents now is critical if Cambodia wants to achieve the goal of having no casualties from traffic accidents by 2030, which is one of the UN’ Millennium Development Goals.

Achieving this goal will not be easy, he said. Last year saw a sharp increase in the number of accidents on the road, a trend that has continued into this year.

Sar Kheng said authorities are now discussing a sub-decree that will amend the Road Traffic Law to create harsher punishments for lawbreakers, including higher fines.

The minister called on the public to respect the traffic law and asked the police to work closely with local authorities to educate the people.

Institute for Road Safety director Kong Ratanak said installing signs, traffic lights and security cameras as well as educating the people were crucial steps to reduce the number of accidents.

“Installing signs, traffic lights and security cameras is important, but we must not forget about educating people and further disseminating the traffic law,” he said.