On October 21, the Ninth Commission of National Assembly held a Parliamentary Consultative Workshop on the “Law on Road Traffic” at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh with up to 200 participants, including Members of Parliament, Senate, government and civil society representatives and affiliates of youth groups. The workshop discussed the draft Road Traffic Law which includes an amendment that would see motorbike passengers, including children, mandated to wear helmets.

The workshop was presided over by H.E. Dr. Nguon Nhel, Second Vice President of the National Assembly, and included presentations by senior government officials and prominent road safety players, which were followed by panel discussions and question and answer sessions about the progressive impacts that the law could have on Cambodian society if swiftly endorsed. Cambodia Country Director of AIP Foundation Mr. Kim Pagna presented an analysis study on “Cost and Lives Savings Analysis if the passengers helmet law passed and enforced in 2014” during the plenary session of the workshop and commented on his appreciation for the government’s efforts for its recent approval of the draft traffic law, currently waiting for approval from National Assembly, and encouraged the legislative bodies for its swift enactment into law.

The AIP Foundation was encouraged by concluding remarks of the workshop which saw overwhelming support for the passage of the law. All inputs and comments from the workshop will be taken by the responsible Ninth Commission members to the forthcoming National Assembly plenary discussion on the draft law. The AIP Foundation anticipates the final approval process to pass the draft law, including consultations at the Senate and signs off by the King, will take place in the coming months.