National Police chief Neth Savoeun has called on national and provincial authorities to become actively involved in truck driver education to help tackle the ongoing issue of garment worker transport accidents.

Speaking at a meeting of the National Road Safety Committee in Phnom Penh yesterday, Savoeun urged committee members to send deputy governors and traffic police to the provincial areas where, he said, awareness of road safety remained desperately lacking.

“The key issue is the vehicles carrying the workers,” he said. “Some provinces have worked on it actively, while some have not,” he added, referring to safety awareness campaigns.

Savoeun said at times drivers were known to race one another or fall asleep at the wheel. He said he hoped in the future that provincial authorities could partner with private bus companies to help find a safer transport solution.

The plea comes less than a month after the National Social Security Fund announced plans to provide training to truck drivers carrying garment workers.

The NSSF aims to have drivers licensed by the end of 2016 though specifics of the program have not been announced.