KATHMANDU: Roads are one of the biggest killers as every year about 1.2 million people lose their lives in road-related mishaps across the globe. And, of late, Kathmandu roads too are gradually turning into places of fatalities.

In majority of the accidents in the Valley, road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable population.

In Wednesday's hair-splitting accident too, six pedestrians were perished. But those aboard the car -- including its driver -- remained unscathed although the vehicle was badly damaged.

"Kathmandu roads have become killer roads now, specially for small-vehicle users," says a motorist, scoffing at the concerned authorities' apathy to establish a proper system despite the frequent casualties.

Shekhar Dhakal, a cabbie, seconds the view. "Ineffective traffic management, nuisance laws and, above all, irregularities in issuing licences at Bagmati Zonal Traffic Management Office are taking toll on public." Anyone can buy licences nowadays. All you need to do is hold the steering and spend some notes. Then, you will get your licenceat your door."

Ravi Raj Shrestha, SP, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, however, claims the traffic policemen are on the round-the-clock duty to make road users abide by the traffic rules. "We've also started sobriety test and taking into custody those found involved in drunk driving," he says adding that they caught 87 drivers those driving under the influence of alcohol.

Amid rife reckless driving, specially by teenagers and their road stunts on the Capital roads, he claims that they were keeping an eye on them as well lately. "We're considering over a policy of speed limit also." Traffic police also claim that traffic-calming techniques such as speed-humps in the interior of the city are preventing the casualties to a great extent.

"Unless drastic measures are taken to counter the upward trend, the number of deaths in road accidents will continue to rise in the coming days," opines a pedestrian.