Citation

Meas C, Pea K. Proc. Road Saf. Four Continents Conf. 2010; 15: 677-688.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Conference Sponsor)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The rapid rise in motorization, road improvement, and lack of road safety education, law enforcement, and public awareness has contributed to the alarming rise in road crash and casualties in Cambodia. Over the last five years, the number of road crashes has increased by150% and the number of fatalities has almost double. The main cause of road crashes was from human error such as speeding, drunk-driving, and dangerous overtaking. Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable. Almost 77% of the total number of casualties and 68% of fatalities involved motorcycles. About 34% of those casualties are between the ages of 15-24. The lack of helmet wearing among motorcyclists is a major contributing factor to head injuries. Out of the 19,879 motorcycle casualties in 2008, 93% were not wearing helmets. As a result, head injuries accounted for 44% of total injuries The National Road Safety Committee (NRSC) of Cambodia, with the support of Asian Development Bank (ADB), developed Road Safety Action Plan, in which Raising Awareness of Road Safety and Enforcing the Road Traffic Law are two main components yet implemented by the government in particular aiming to promote helmet wearing among the motorcycle users. Seeing the gap, Handicap International Belgium (HIB) developed an integrated-campaign of Helmet Wearing Promotion and Enforcement in Cambodia. It was a good example tackling the situation while the government is still lack of resources for implementation. In this paper, an attempt has been made to describe the experience of Helmet Wearing Promotion and Enforcement in Cambodia. Detailed description of the project including objectives, method, strategy, monitoring and evaluation technique, challenges and lessons learning from the project are also highlighted. At the very outset of the paper, a brief review of road safety problems particularly motorcycle crisis in Cambodia are also described.