Kathmandu, February 2

Stakeholders and authorities have demanded that the road safety bill drafted by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport be passed from the Parliament at the earliest.

At a workshop organised by Nepal Injury Investigation Centre here yesterday, lawmaker Dila Sangraula, who had registered the proposal of public importance related to ro ad safety in the Parliament, demanded that discussions be held on the bill.

Sangraula argued that it was the government’s duty to ensure road safety. Furthermore, she viewed that the concerned authority should regularly monitor construction of roads to make sure that they meet set standards.

Moreover, the lawmaker opined that the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act was outdated and the laws needed to be updated to ensure road safety. She viewed that the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure as well as the Ministry for Health and Population should work in coordination to finalise the draft of road safety bill.

Similarly, lawmaker Ram Kumari Jhakri stressed the need for the media to conduct in-depth reporting of road accidents. She asserted that the media should enhance advocacy on the issues related to road safety. According to her, both the government and public should work towards reducing road accidents.

Meanwhile, Joint-Secretary Saroj Pradhan said the bill related to road safety was being prepared. Pradhan shared that a study conducted by traffic police showed that around 2,000 people were killed and 4,000 critically injured annually in road accidents across the country.

On the occasion, journalist Yubaraj Ghimire said cases of road accidents were increasing lately as the traffic police had been allowing the vehicles carrying VIPs to cross the speed limit. He said the media should disseminate stories that would raise road safety awareness among the people. Journalist Gajendra Budhathoki, who sustained spinal injury, following a road accident in 2008 said his life had been difficult after the accident.