Helmets for passengers planned (http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011082251178/National-news/helmets-for-passengers-planned.html)


http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2011082251178/National-news/helmets-for-passengers-planned.html

Despite the high death rate on the Kingdom’s roads, carefree motorbike passengers are not required to don a helmet. But that could soon change, if an amendment to Cambodia’s Traffic Law is passed.

Peou Maly, deputy director- general of transport and deputy secretary-general of the government’s National Road Safety Committee, said yesterday he had drafted an amendment to the Traffic Law that would require passengers on motorcycles to wear helmets.

“I have finished the draft and am waiting [for further consul-tation] before sending it to the Ministry of Interior, the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly,” Peou Maly said.

According to national data, 18,287 people – 72 per cent of them motorcyclists – died on Cambodia’s roads last year.

Of those, 37 per cent suffered head injuries because they were not wearing helmets.

Although the draft received a positive reaction from road-safety groups and motorcycle riders yesterday, some motodops on the capital’s streets expressed concern at the cost of providing a helmet for their passengers.

Tan Sokha, 45, a motodop based at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang III market, said that although making passengers wear helmets would be good for road safety, he had asked the government to consider the cost to motodops, who would be forced to spend between US$20 and $30 on good-quality headgear.

“I make only 15,000 riel to 20,000 riel [US$3.75 to $5] a day, so the government would be very kind to consider this point,” Tan Sokha said.

Chea Soeurn, 38, a motodop who operates near the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, said most of his passengers were foreigners so he would invest in a helmet if the amendment was passed.

But he said he would be able to afford only a second-hand helmet costing between $5 and $10.

“It is important that the price is cheap so I can afford it,” Chea Sourn said.

I think this is very good move, which idiot think in the event of accident that driver is the only one that will get head injury, it should have got it right in the first place. That all passenger is require to wear helmet.

The same with cars, which idiot think only the front passenger will suffer injury and decide the front must wear seatbelt, but the back is not required?

Tan Sokha, 45, a motodop based at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang III market, said that although making passengers wear helmets would be good for road safety, he had asked the government to consider the cost to motodops, who would be forced to spend between US$20 and $30 on good-quality headgear.

“I make only 15,000 riel to 20,000 riel [US$3.75 to $5] a day, so the government would be very kind to consider this point,” Tan Sokha said.

Chea Soeurn, 38, a motodop who operates near the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, said most of his passengers were foreigners so he would invest in a helmet if the amendment was passed.

But he said he would be able to afford only a second-hand helmet costing between $5 and $10.

“It is important that the price is cheap so I can afford it,” Chea Sourn said.

I do believe if passenger of mototuk is requires to wear helmet, it will
affects its business, at least some peope will not use a helmet that has been worn by hundreds of god know who, and risk of contacting head lices or similar.

Another issue, I think is with lots of large family, you will see lots of motocycle carries 3, 4 or even 5 people, there is no way it can work out if all passenger wear a helmet.

Tuk Tuk business will probably improve a lot if this is enforced correctly.

Helmet enforcement lagging
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012050856030/National-news/helmet-enforcement-lagging.html


The striking number of Cambodian motorbike drivers and passengers still travelling without a helmet is creating a significant public health issue that needs remedied, a new report shows.

Observations by a team of international researchers of about 100,000 motor cyclists throughout Cambodia revealed that only one out of every four drivers wore a helmet when driving at night and just 48 per cent wore helmets during the daytime, according to a report published in Traffic Injury Prevention.

According to the World Health Organization, road fatalities in Cambodia have increased by more than 40 per cent over the past five years.

Rather than a lack of knowledge about the “life-saving potential” of helmets, or a lack of access to helmets, the report contends that “inconsistent enforcement” of the Kingdom’s helmet law, which fines drivers 3,000 riels if they are not wearing a helmet, could be a significant factor.

The study also found that drivers were 10 times more likely to wear a helmet than passengers.

Such low rates could be remedied by improved legislation, the report recommends.

“Though we have seen that a law for drivers alone does not result in universal usage, one would expect helmet use to increase among passengers if the law also included this high-risk group.”

Efforts are now under way at adding an amendment to the Kingdom’s traffic law that would require passengers to also wear helmets.

Kim Yideth, deputy director of the public order at the Ministry of Interior, told the Post yesterday that he would be meeting with lawmakers from the Council of Ministers this morning to discuss such legislation.

Chloe Denavit, communications coordinator for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, noted that due to the inconsistencies in enforcement mentioned above, “an amendment to the law, while absolutely crucial, may not be enough on its own”.

“Public education must accompany this amendment, and target adults, children, and traffic police officers alike,” she said.

Rather than a lack of knowledge about the “life-saving potential” of helmets, or a lack of access to helmets, the report contends that “inconsistent enforcement” of the Kingdom’s helmet law, which fines drivers 3,000 riels if they are not wearing a helmet, could be a significant factor.

I believe 3000riels penalty is too cheap, it should start at $2. and $2 for each passenger not wearing a helmet.
If the rider does not have a helmet ready, bike confiscated, and they can come back to collect it (and pay a holding fees).

The study also found that drivers were 10 times more likely to wear a helmet than passengers.


Drivers don't normally carries spare helmet for their passenger, and they don't have room to keep 4 helmet for the whole families anyway.

But I do see more passengers using helmet in the past few month.

“Though we have seen that a law for drivers alone does not result in universal usage, one would expect helmet use to increase among passengers if the law also included this high-risk group.”

Efforts are now under way at adding an amendment to the Kingdom’s traffic law that would require passengers to also wear helmets.

What about cyclist, they are high risk group as well?