Enforcing motorists to wear helmet is still not effective
Requiring all motorcycle riders to wear crash helmet is a part of new road traffic law passed in 2007 and is aimed at reducing road traffic accident. The government directive over motorbike riders to wear safe helmet has taken effective since 1st January 2009. Traffic police would start fining all motorists without wearing helmet. Traffic police officers have been deployed at the corner of intersection in Phnom Penh in order to stop and fine motorbike riders without wearing crash helmet, more than 80 percent of Phnom Penh residents bought and wore crash helmet.
The first day of implementing the directive, more than 100 motorists without wearing safe helmet in Phnom Penh were fined and educated by traffic police officers. This was the first campaign conducted in order to require all motorcycle riders to put on crash helmet to prevent themselves from fatal accident.
According to traffic police chief, all fines from motorists were not pocketed by police officers. He also affirmed that it is a sign to reduce bribery or corruption. Even though, that is the new sign for the first campaign during the short period of time but the long time, the activities of extorting money from motorbike riders for their pocket will return to normal.
By the way, it takes times for Cambodian people to be used to wearing helmet and understanding the advantage of wearing crash helmet. It is observed that most of young youths and elderly people do not wear helmet. The starting point of wearing helmet is coming from people by themselves.
Other point, I noted that traffic police seemly ignored to stop and fine riders or educate them about how to wear helmet. But what I saw is that police still take attention on the extortion of money from taxis, trucks and transportation pick-ups.
Meanwhile, I feel nervous while I see a baby wedged between two people on a motorbike, or almost hanging on the side. In addition, the infant boy or girl has been placed in front of riders without helmet as well. As I know the law does not apply to boys or girl and passengers without helmet.
Therefore, the law is still lack for applying motorists and passengers. By the way, I always see that one motorcycle can carry passengers until 4 people, including motorbike rider. That is a point causing accident as well.
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All people who ride motor-bike shall remember that helmet is there to protect individual safety in case of accident which may cause brain injury or death instantly.
Choose not to wear the helmet is said that the person concerned doesn’t care about him/herself but shall at the time take into consideration of his/her family members, parents who would love to see their childer home safe and sound. I believed that many parents would say “if killed instantly, would be less pain, less financial constraints and cares given to the person”.
Unlikely in the west, choose not to wear a helmet is subject to fine, withdrawal of motor-bike license simply because government does care about each individual life of its citizen, medical cost, cares, sufferings.
may be one day Government there may change the law – compulsory.