(Phnom Penh): Phnom Penh City Hall has launched a new project, “Safe School Zones,” aimed at improving road safety and reducing vehicle speeds around school areas in the city. The initiative demonstrates the city’s strong commitment to creating safer streets and healthier communities as part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities, a prestigious global network of more than 70 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs)—such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer—and injuries.

The Safe School Zones project will begin with a pilot phase in two primary schools in Phnom Penh, which focuses on improving the school infrastructure and creating safer environments for students. These pilot schools will serve as models for replication in other parts of Phnom Penh and in other cities across the global network. As part of the project, students, teachers, and school administrators will receive training on road safety to maintain and promote “safe school zones”.

This week, the city hosted the inaugural project workshop, presided over by Penh Thearom, Vice Governor of Phnom Penh Capital Hall, and attended by 60 participants working in the fields of public work and transport, education, health and law enforcements. During the event, the Vice Governor formally handed over 18 driver license point reduction machines and other essential equipment, including portable lights and road checkpoint materials, to local authorities.“We deeply appreciate the continuous support from the Partnership for Healthy Cities,” said Phnom Penh Vice Governor Penh Thearom at the workshop. “We look forward to further strengthening our collaboration with this esteemed global network to advance the health and well-being of our city’s residents.”

To complement infrastructure improvements, local enforcement of road safety laws will be strengthened by increasing police speed limit checkpoints around targeted schools. Enforcement officers and local authorities will receive training from the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) in several key areas, including assessing roads with Star Rating for School (S4RS), collecting operating speeds and vehicle flows. A communication campaign will also be launched to raise public awareness about the dangers of speeding and to remind drivers to observe the 30 km/h speed limit near schools.

The new project aligns with calls from Peng Ponea, Minister of Public Works & Transport, made during the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in February 2025, to establish safe school zones nationwide by 2027. These efforts are crucial to protect children and youth from road crashes caused by speeding —one of the leading causes of road fatalities and injuries in the country. According to the Cambodia Road Safety Plan 2021-2030, the country records an average of seven road crashes and five fatalities every day. Based on city data, in Phnom Penh alone, an estimated 350,000 students (around 17% of the city’s populations) are commuting between home and schools two to four times daily, highlighting the urgent need for safer routes.

"The launch of the Safe School Zones initiative reflects Phnom Penh Capital Hall’s strong leadership and commitment to safeguarding its youngest citizens. This partnership-driven effort is a remarkable step toward saving valuable lives and building a safer, healthier city for all”, said Farhad Ali, Deputy Regional Director, Partnership for Healthy Cities

A Stakeholder Meeting on Safe School Zones was also organized prior to the workshop, bringing together representatives from the national government, international development partners, and NGOs working in the field of road safety to discuss project details, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for collaborations to strengthen and expand the initiative.

Since joining the Partnership for Healthy Cities in 2017, Phnom Penh has implemented several health-focused initiatives ranging from reducing sugary drink consumption, promoting healthier food environments, to addressing drink driving . The launch of Safe School Zones initiative marks the city’s continued commitment to create a safer and healthier urban future for its residents.

About The Partnership for Healthy Cities:
The Partnership for Healthy Cities is a prestigious global network of more than 70 cities committed to saving lives by preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with WHO and the global health organization Vital Strategies, the initiative enables cities around the world to deliver a high-impact policy or programmatic intervention to reduce NCDs and injuries in their communities. For more information, visit https://cities4health.org
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