Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Know Before You Go Driving Culture ‰‰ Driving is on the right. • Drivers frequently disregard all traffic rules. ‰‰ Drivers are required to carry a passport and Cambodian driver’s license. • Motorized vehicles compete for road space An International Driving Permit (IDP) may also be required by some with bicycles, tuk tuks, animal-drawn carts agencies to rent a vehicle. and pedestrians. ‰‰ Traffic crashes are common; chaotic conditions are a contributing factor. • Cars and motorcycles are generally poorly ‰‰ Seat belt use is required for drivers. For safety, all passengers should maintained and lack basic safety features. wear seat belts. • Running red lights and stop signs is ‰‰ Blood alcohol limit is below 0.05 g/dl. Enforcement is low. ‰‰ National driving standards are poor. common. ‰‰ Driving at night is not recommended. • Motorcycle and scooter drivers often travel ‰‰ Driving while intoxicated is common. against traffic on streets and sidewalks. ‰‰ There are 17.4 road deaths per 100,000 people in Cambodia, compared • Drivers often purchase licenses without to 2.8 in Sweden and 2.9 in the UK. instruction or testing.

Road Conditions • There are 44,709 km (27,780 miles) of roads in Cambodia. 3,607 km (2,241 miles) are paved. • Beyond urban areas, there are no emergency services for traffic crashes. • There are many unexploded landmines and ordnance; mined areas are frequently unmarked. Do not leave designated roadways. Areas around small bridges on secondary roads are particularly dangerous. • Heavily mined areas include Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, and Kampong Thom provinces. • Pedestrian infrastructure is poorly developed. Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. • Pedestrians should avoid walking alone after dusk in Sihanoukville, especially along the waterfront. • The following roads may present particular challenges to motorists: »» National Highway 4 connects with Sihanoukville in southwest Cambodia. The road is poorly maintained and policing is inadequate. It has a high rate of crashes and is widely regarded as the most dangerous road in the country. »» Rural roads throughout the country have dirt surfaces and are subject to washing out during rains. Shoulders, where present, may give way. Standing water and deep mud may obscure road hazards including large potholes, rocks and other obstacles. During the dry season, road dust creates poor visibility. »» Poor city garbage management blocks drains on small roads around Kandal Market, Psa Chas and Derm Kor Market in Phnom Penh, which are subject to regular flooding. • Many rural parts of the country remain without effective policing. • Effortsto implement national road safety strategies are only partially funded. • Formal audits are required for new road construction. • There are regular inspections of existing road infrastructure. • There are no policies to promote walking, cycling or public transportation development. Regional and Seasonal Conditions • Monsoon conditionscreate flooding and hazardous road conditions. • Rainy season runs from May to October, with heaviest rains typically occurring in September and October. Source: CIA Factbook ©ASIRT 2018 1 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Cambodia • Landslides are common following heavy rains. • Cambodia is subject to severe weather conditions that affect travel safety. Be familiar with emergency procedures. The Red Cross provides a website and free, downloadable emergency app: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/ prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies Public Transportation • Public transportationincludes buses, car taxis, motorcycle “moto-taxis,” bicycle “cyclo” taxis, tuk tuks (rickshaws usually pulled by bicycles) and ferries. • All forms of public transportation are generally regarded as unsafe. • Car taxis may be lacking in basic safety features including adequate seat belts, brakes, turn signals, taillights, headlights, horns and windshield wipers. • Water transportationincludes ferries and riverboats. There are multiple operators; no standards exist for equipment or crews. • Ferries are overcrowded and boats are poorly maintained. Speed Limits • Ferry operators often ignore weather warnings. Unless Otherwise Signed • Travel by riverboat can be especially dangerous following Type of road Maximum speed heavy rains when water levels are high and currents are 40 kph strong. Urban areas (25 mph) • Ferries and riverboats often lack life jackets or other safety equipment. If traveling by ferry, bring your own 90 kph Rural roads (56 mph) life jacket.

100 kph Traffic Regulations Motorways (62 mph) • Police enforcement of traffic rules is low. Bribes are common. Always adjust speed according to signage, hazards and • Speed limits are poorly enforced. weather conditions. • Police carry out random breath tests. • Drivers must be a minimum of 18 years of age for cars and trucks; 16 years for motorcycles. • Right turns on red are allowed where signs indicate. • Law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians at crossings. • Traffic already present in roundabouts has priority when • Horn use is prohibited in built up areas after midnight traveling counterclockwise. unless to warn others of danger. • Parking is permitted on roadsides in the same direction as • Children under ten are not allowed in front seats. traffic. • Children under four must be secured with seat belts or • On one-way streets, parking is permitted on roadsides child safety seats in the rear seat of vehicle. facing in both directions. • Child restraint devices may not be available. For safety, • Exceptions to parking rules include: bring an appropriate children’s car seat or restraint »» Within 5 meters (16.4 feet) of intersections on urban with you. streets. • Helmet use is mandatory for motorcycle drivers. »» Within 10 meters (32.8 feet) of intersections on main Passengers are not required to wear helmets; for roads and rural roads. safety, passengers should wear helmets. »» Vehicles may not obstruct entrances or exits to public • Helmet use is not required for cyclists. For personal buildings or residences. safety, bicycle helmets are recommended. Signs are generally pictorial and may not follow European Union conventions.

Beware of No entry for Main Proceed Winding road Low flying No parking Pay parking train ahead motor vehicles road ahead ahead aircraft on even area days

©ASIRT 2018 2 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Cambodia

Phnom Penh (Capital) »»Traffic is chaotic. »»Poor drainage and road infrastructure lead to road flooding during heavy rains. Be alert to potholes and obscured road hazards. »»Road users include drivers of cars, motorcycles, motorbikes, bicycles and tuk tuks. »»Emergency services are inadequate. »»Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution. »»There are few sidewalks. »»Motorcycles and motorbikes typically weave among pedestrians. »»Local drivers commonly park on sidewalks, and disregard pedestrians. »»There are three public bus lines serving separate city routes, operated by Phnom Penh City Bus: Lines are designated 01, 02 and 03. »»Bus travel is free to students and senior citizens. »»City buses do not have a good safety record. »»Taxis include cars, motorcycles and tuk tuks. »»Unmarked, unmetered taxis are common in tourist areas and near hotels. »»Motorcycle taxis (motodops) and bicycle taxis (cyclos) are unregulated. Equipment may lack basic safety features. »»Ferry service is available between the city and Siem Reap. The port is located south of the Japanese bridge on Sisowath Quay. »»Ferries may be overloaded. Safety equipment is often inadequate. If traveling by ferry or boat, bring your own life preserver. »»During the city’s annual Water Festival, the population temporarily increases by several million as the city fills with visitors from around the country. Avoid crowded riverfront areas, as traffic becomes disorderly and dangerous. Pedestrians should be especially cautious. »»Phnom Penh International Airport is located 10 km (6 miles) west of city center. »»A transportation information counter is located in the arrivals area. »»An express bus between the airport and city center has recently been introduced, operated by KK Star. Tickets may be purchased on board. »»Royal Railway Cambodia operates a direct train from the airport parking area to Phnom Penh Railway Station in city center. »»Tuk tuks offer fixed rates from the airport to the city. »»Official taxis can be found at the arrivals area. »»Major car rental agencies are represented at the airport.

Siem Reap »»Traffic is unruly. »»Motorized Green E-bikes can be rented city wide. »»White Bicycles operates a bike rental program throughout the city. Equipment is generally in good condition and can be found at guest houses. »»Public transportation includes motorbike taxis (motodops), tuk tuks and taxis. »»Motodup and tuk tuk equipment is unregulated, and may lack basic safety features. »»Taxis can be hired for short rides or longer touring. Agree on price prior to travel. »»Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is located 6 km (3.7 miles) from the city. »»Facilities are limited. »»Options for reaching city center include rental car, tuk tuk and taxi.

©ASIRT 2018 3 Association for Safe International Road Travel Road Safety Review: Cambodia Emergency Information • Response to emergencies may be slow; responders may not speak English. • Medical services are lacking. »» Police: 117 »» Ambulance: 119 »» Fire: 118 • Pre-program emergency numbers into your phone before departure. • If involved in a crash: »» Contact police and emergency services. »» Contact insurance company and rental car agency. »» Cooperate with police, but do not surrender any original documents. Carry photocopies of passport, driver’s license and insurance. »» Police may charge a fee to make a report; there should be no charge for police reports.

ASIRT is a non-profit humanitarian organization established in memory of Aron Sobel, age 25, who was killed along with 22 other passengers in a Pamukkale Bus Company crash on the roads of Turkey.

Disclaimer: ASIRT provides this information as a service to travelers. This Road Safety Review is intended to provide general guidelines for travelers to countries around the world. Any electronic links provided in this Report are for illustrative purposes and ASIRT is not responsible for the content provided within these electronic links and/or videos.

Copyright: Purchasers of this Road Safety Review are entitled to use it for purposes of research, education, information on health, safety and general road and traffic conditions or other non-commercial uses. Neither the whole nor any part of this ASIRT Road Safety Review may be copied in any form or provided to any other party without the prior written consent of the copyright owner. Flag images are © Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook.

To order more copies or to order Road Travel Reports for other countries please contact: Association for Safe International Road Travel, 11769 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD 20854 USA, Phone: 1-240-249-0100, Fax: 1-301-329-8487; www.asirt.org; [email protected]

©ASIRT 2018 4