I was coming home from dinner tonight from the Russian Market area and going toward Boeng Tom Pun ( St. 271). As soon as I turned on to St. 488 ( See attached map), there were 3 traffic police in the road and a metal sign set up. The metal sign had a red arrow pointing to the side and a bunch of Khmer language written on it. I then hear my missus say" Oh, this is drunk driver stop" They were just setting it up as I went through toward the traffic circle there. They had a machine out and everything about to stop everyone.

My missus then went on and said they have been doing this for the past 3 months. I didn't know of this, but as they say, ignorance is bliss. She said as she was driving a car home from work one day she went through one and they were stopping a lot of younger people. They didn't stop her as she was alone and didn't look the profile, so she guesses.

So here it is folks, if you are drinking and driving in Phnom Penh, they are breathylyzing at check points. And this was indeed set up so once they started enforcing the checkpoint, you couldn't go around it. I guess you could pull a U turn, but they were on both sides of the street and spread out.

Edit- Sorry, the map isn't displaying as big as I had saved it. Oh well. It was on st 488 heading toward the traffic circle there south of Russian Market. Popular street to take from Monivong heading to Boeng Tompun or Russian Market. Interesting to see them out at 8pm on a Tuesday night on St 488. I was surprised.

They've been running this on MTT in front of Wat TTP for a while. Haven't seen it elsewhere yet, someone must think there's a higher than average number of drunk drivers in TTP. Odd, given the absence of bars...

Glad this is happening. Almost got taken out by some drunken idiot yesterday driving on the wrong side at speed and weaving like he was doing a slalom. Doubt he made it to where he was going. Darwinian theory will prevail.

Secret Squirrel wrote:Glad this is happening. Almost got taken out by some drunken idiot yesterday driving on the wrong side at speed and weaving like he was doing a slalom. Doubt he made it to where he was going. Darwinian theory will prevail.

I would seriously bet you ten dollars that the driver wasn't drunk. Lop lop.

Pretty certain he was. Was a old guy not some freshly boy. Got a close look at his eyes and things were not functioning well. 100% bladdered.

Extraction of tea money will of course be the result but should still have the effect of dissuading some muppets. Just look at how many wear helmets in the daytime when the cops are out collecting and how both cops and helmets magically disappear after dark.
The process may be corrupt but it does have the effect of increasing compliance.

General Mackevili wrote:

Secret Squirrel wrote:Glad this is happening. Almost got taken out by some drunken idiot yesterday driving on the wrong side at speed and weaving like he was doing a slalom. Doubt he made it to where he was going. Darwinian theory will prevail.

Sorry about that. Didn't recognize you.



I would be glad about it, but I'm afraid it will only be used as another tool to help them extort more tea money from drivers. It's the actual enforcement that would be nice to see them improve on.

I can't wait until the first CEOer (cough, Sir Q, ahem...) goes through one drunk and tells us what happens. I'm guessing they'll have to pay, then be allowed to drive off. That's what happens when you have to pay for not having a helmet, etc.

Besides, based on some of the pics in the news of those being breathalyzed, I think your best bet is to just "suck" on the damn thing and hopefully they'll let you go after a few faulty results.

I didn't want to drone on and on, but my girl also mentioned that the cops are already not really giving a shit about the drunks but using it as a massive net to fine everyone. She has obviously been hearing or reading about this in Khmer news.