Recently, the Cambodia government will enforce the truck, taxi or van’s drivers to enforce the road traffic law not to allow passengers to ride on the roof into the city in order to reduce danger. The fine for infractions will range from 7,000 riels (US$1.75) to 10,000 riels. Repeat offenders could be fined as much as 50,000 riels.
“From today, we will fine overloaded trucks and vans from the provinces that allow passengers to ride on the roof into the city because it is dangerous,” Tin Prasoeur, chief of the Phnom Penh traffic police quoted by Phnom Penh Post as saying.
I always observe that trucks or taxi transport the overloaded passengers, especially before and after special events such Khmer New Year, and P’chum Ben festivals. That is great that the municipality have to take strict measure to impose the find on the overloaded trucks or taxi’s drivers. And it is the way for reducing danger.
I think it is appropriate to limit numbers of passengers on each type of vehicle – this is for safety reason and to reduce the numbers of casualties if there is an accident.
I think to avoid accident the government wants to limit number of passengers but the problem is “Can it ?”
I still remember last time when i went to my home town, i took a taxi with 9 people. And what i couldn’t believe is the car was driven around 150km/h(?) with 2 people (including the driver) sit on the taxi driver place. If there were something happen, we might die.
I agreed with what the municipality to limit the number of passengers in order to reduce the accidents but what it is important is that the trucks or taxi drivers have to drive carefully.
@ Original Lab, I used to see the high-speed taxi driving by hauling the overloaded passengers. It will be able to cause accidents as well. The collision tween trucks or taxi always happen frequently along the national road because of careless driving and high speed. sometimes, taxi smashed people by accident.