New figures show rise in road fatalities

Kathmandu, April 27

Despite government’s tall claims, new figures show that road fatalities are on the rise.

According to records maintained by Nepal Police, a total of 1,356 people were killed in road accidents in the fiscal 2008/09, followed by 1,734 in 2009/10, 1,689 in 2010/11, 1,837 in 2011/12, 1,816 in 2012/13, 1,786 in 2013/14 and 2004 in 2014/15.

At least 1,305 road fatalities were reported in the first 10 months of the current fiscal. On an average, 1,800 persons die in road accidents across the country every year.

Police say road accidents are on the rise due to increased vehicular traffic. Most accidents causing human injury are reported to the police. Accidents with minor injury or damage to vehicles are often settled at the accident site and go unreported.

A fairly large number of accidents go unreported, mainly because the parties involved settle the matter themselves.

Generally, only accidents that cause serious injury or damage to property are reported and recorded at the police office.

Considering the loss of lives and property in road accidents, concerned road and traffic management agencies have adopted measures to ensure road safety, but with limited success.

Poor visibility at blind corners, inadequate safety barriers, unscientific location of passing bays, driver’s negligence, drink-driving, random roadside parking, poor condition of roads, lack of awareness of traffic rules, poor road engineering, among others, are blamed for road accidents.

According to the Department of Roads, the road density in Nepal is considered to be the lowest among the south Asian countries.

Of the total 12,493 km of roads, 51 per cent are pavedwhile 36 per cent are earthen and 13 per cent graveled.

About half of all the accidents nationwide occur in the Kathmandu Valley alone.