​New Year’s Disqualification Crackdown. More than 1,000 driving licenses will be revoked

Cambodian traffic police will next week begin revoking more than 1,000 driving licenses that have achieved zero demerit points, out of more than 70,000 licenses for which points were deducted. Drivers whose license is approaching zero points are encouraged to retake the tests to restore their point balance.

According to a Dec. 23 notification from National Police Chief Gen. Sar Thet, traffic police in Phnom Penh and provinces will start enforcing revocation of all types of driving licenses with zero points from Jan. 1 .

The measure aims to strengthen the enforcement of the road traffic law, reduce road accidents and ensure increased transparency when punishing offenses.

The notification further urges drivers whose license is close to zero points to apply for additional training and examinations at the service centers of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and restore their points.

The National Police also called on the public to comply with this measure in order to promote road safety, reduce accidents and improve general traffic order.

Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Phorn Rim said that between September 1, 2022 and November 30, 2024, a total of 74,504 permits had points deducted. Among them, 1,232 licenses no longer had any points.

“Since September 1, 2022, the date of implementation of the demerit system, no request for additional training or examination for restitution of points has been received,” he noted.

The points system was introduced as part of measures to reduce road accidents. Each license carries a total of 12 points, with one to six points deducted for various traffic violations, depending on severity. However, no more than eight points can be deducted in a single case. Drivers with zero points lose their license and must wait six months before retaking the test to regain a license.

Drivers can complete two days of theoretical training at the Ministry of Transport to restore up to four points, but only one session is allowed every six months. If a driver maintains one or two points without committing further offenses within three years, the license will be reinstated to its full 12 points.

National Police Deputy General Chev Hak, who supervises traffic and public order, and Ministry of Transportation State Secretary Min Manavy, who is secretary general of the National Road Safety Committee, were not not available for comment on December 24.

In the first half of 2024, traffic authorities inspected 84,292 vehicles and fined 64,296, accounting for 79% of inspections. Motorcycles accounted for 48,703 violations, or 76 percent of the total cases.

During this period, authorities deducted a total of 31,741 points from the licenses of 69,480 vehicles, including 2,057 points for motorcycles over 125cc, 28,956 points for passenger cars and light vehicles and 754 points for heavy vehicles. No license is required to ride a 125cc motorcycle.