Traffic Safety in Cambodia: The Life-Saving Walking Guide You Need

I published this hugely important article and YouTube video to raise awareness and save lives. So, please hear me out and share this story with as many locals as you can, as well as government officials, if you know some.

The situation is more than tragic – it is out of control – the hit and runs by large vehicles and tired or drunk drivers.

The Government has finally acknowledged the problem with a promise to “crackdown” on drivers hitting people, killing them, and then fleeing the scene.

How would or could that “crackdown” even look like or happen?

That’s a good question, which could be easily solved – this is how.

First, here are the main problems hindering this from happening:

This horrifying situation has been going on for multiple years. The city has boomed and become busier with much more traffic and people yearly.

Here are the 2 reasons this nightmare is even happening – both are super simple and quick to solve:

1 – CCTV

There are next to no CCTV cameras installed all over Phnom Penh and all other major cities in Cambodia.

If there were CCTV, the culprits would be identified, caught, sent to trial, and jailed for many years.

2 – School and Authorities Directives Issued to the Population

This was shocking for me to learn once I heard about it, after living in Cambodia for 2 years.

Children, adults, and seniors are instructed to walk on the right side of the road with the traffic coming from behind – even by their parents or friends. Given there are no sidewalks in 95% of the city, by walking on the right side you have unknowingly entered into a “death wish.”

I have even been told by a Cambodian friend (as I always walk in Phnom Penh): Hey man, I saw you walking and you are walking on the left side of the street, you should walk on the right. Those are the rules.

People in Cambodia are taught to drive on the right, that’s the rule. However, pedestrians are also told to walk on the right.

That is so so wrong, it’s beyond comprehensible.

Does that make any sense to Westerners? No, because we are thankfully taught the opposite from a very young age and that has been so forever!

Western traffic and pedestrian regulations are so obvious even a blind man could see them.

1 – If you walk with traffic coming from behind you, what is the problem?

You have no idea what is rolling towards you.

You can’t see or hear it. It’s all just traffic and noise for the local folks and business as usual.

2 – Now, if you walk against oncoming traffic so that you are facing it, what changes?

The logical 2 answers:

Your perception and awareness of what’s around you
The ability to see dangerous oncoming traffic, which allows you to quickly jump out of harm’s way, as your stress hormones kick in and tell you, “flight NOW, or you will die!”

Please read this story by the Kiri Post:

Strong Action Key to Curb Surge in Fatal Hit-and-Runs

“The latest hit-and-run to plague the capital’s roads left a mother and her two-year-old child dead, triggering urgent calls for authorities to take action against perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.

His Suzuki Nex, once a symbol of family unity, lay mangled against a tree, its holiday decorations dimmed by the shadow of tragedy. A black Hummer had ripped through Christmas Eve, leaving a mother and son silenced beneath its wheels.”

Please also read this story by the Khmer Times. It happens to motorcycle riders all the time too.

5 die in deadly hit-and-run

“5 people are confirmed to have died in a major crash in Kratié province – and police are now searching for the driver responsible.”

Not much more needs to be said or done other than the 2 issues being immediately addressed and changed effective immediately.

What we learn in the West:

Please read the story by The Washington State Department of Transportation.

“Safety tips for pedestrians”

The best way to avoid collisions is to be prepared and be aware of vehicles around you. While the law assigns pedestrians the right of way, it does not relieve pedestrians of using due care for their own safety.

Walk on sidewalks

If sidewalks are not available, walk on the edge of the road or on the left shoulder of the road, facing the traffic flow. Use pedestrian bridges when they are available.”

Please watch my YouTube video here where I explain the logic.

Final Thoughts

CCTV in major busy central areas would be a great help, but not as important as this one.

Cambodia, I love you, your people, and the government and police, as everyone is so kind and friendly to me. That is why I promote Cambodia daily on my Blog, YouTube Channel, and social media pages.

But, please, I beg you to immediately take action and begin to re-educate society about traffic, what side of the road to walk on (if there is no sidewalk) and therefore stay alive and not be senselessly killed.

I am more than happy to help if you ask me to. I hope I am doing this already with this blog post and my short YouTube video.

Rob