PHNOM PENH - Road accidents left 801 Cambodians dead in the first five months of this year despite the government's efforts in law enforcement and education, said a senior transport official on Tuesday.

Peou Maly, deputy director general of the ministry of public works and transport, said that from January to May this year, 2001 traffic accidents occurred and 801 people died nationwide.  

Opening a two-day seminar on road safety, he said that road accidents are due to increasing number of vehicles, overspeeding, overtaking and drunk driving.

The death toll of road accidents has become the No 1 killer in Cambodia followed by those of HIV/AIDS and mine casualties.

Last year, 1,816 people were killed by road accidents; 70 percent of the deaths were motorcycle drivers, according to the reports by the ministry.

The country lost $279 million from road accidents in 2010.