Cambodia - September 5, 2019

The Second Annual Conference for Road Safety in Cambodia brought together policy makers, concerned government bodies, non-governmental organizations, private sector, media, and road safety advocates in support of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over 350 delegates convened at Himawari Hotel in Phnom Penh on September 4-5, 2019, to discuss practical strategies, exchange information, and participate in breakout sessions to review current road safety plans, and share their recommendations for the future of road crash prevention. The conference was hosted by AIP Foundation and the Coalition for Road Safety (CRY), in coordination with the National Road Safety Committee (NRSC).

The key focus and theme centered on addressing Cambodia’s “Eight Pillars” of Road Safety: safe road users, safe infrastructure, better road management, safer vehicles, improved emergency medical assistance, law amendment and enforcement, expansive driver licensing and management, and evaluation of passenger and goods transport services.

Sessions covered challenges and costs associated with road crashes, as well as key interventions to implement, in regards to progressing towards Cambodia’s decade of road safety goals. The conference discussed Cambodia’s previous success in other sectors and how they can be applied to road safety, as well as media engagement, the role of transport companies, private sector, and civil society’s role in improving road safety.

Pagna Kim, Country Director of AIP Foundation, who hosted several sessions at the conference on helmet safety, speeding, and distracted driving, expressed, “Especially when the situation in Cambodia has reached the point that at least 5 lives are lost and 13 more are seriously injured in road crashes each day, identifying countermeasures is much needed. The recommendations made at this conference will help lay a foundation for the future of effective road crash prevention.”