Available information about Road traffic crashes in Nepal shows that nearly 1,700 people lost their lives and over 13,000 people sustained injuries in the year 2010. So far, this number corresponds to 5 deaths each day in Nepal. A study conducted by the Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC) estimated that about 40,000 people received road traffic injuries in Nepal in 2009, resulting in about one-third of all hospital visits in Nepal. The latter study shows that 110 people sustain road crash related injuries each day. It is obvious that most of these crashes occur in Kathmandu valley. However, as a result of expanding road networks and increasing access to motorised vehicles, road traffic injuries have become a daily phenomenon in rural areas as well.
The amount of road crashes has significantly increased since early 2000s, as there was an increse in the import of motorised vehicles in Nepal at that point. Today there are over 1 million registered vehicles in Nepal, the majority (80-85 percent) of which are two-wheeler vehicles, i.e. motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, etc. These kinds of vehicles are popular among the youth. In a majority of road crashes, youths and two-wheeler vehicles are involved. Nevertheless, accidents of long haul passenger vehicles are also a major cause of injuries and deaths of many people in Nepal. Safety measures are a matter of concern for many long and short distance journeys in Nepal. In addition, seat-belts are not fitted, or not used when available, the standard of helmets is not determined, and the condition of roads is not good. There is a lack of road rules among drivers, pedestrians and general public. In rural areas there are no mechanisms for monitoring the suitability of road and vehicular movement, which increases the risk of life threatening accidents in journeys.
PHOTO: AUTOPSIES.COM
In absence of appropriate evidence based facts and figures, road safety policies and practices rely heavily on anecdotal information. There are varying and often conflicting opinions regarding the causes of road traffic crashes in Nepal. These are related to the conditions of roads and vehicles, behaviours of road users, and knowledge about road safety measures. Nepali media have shown promising concern in bringing these issues to light for wider attention.
Road crashes have multiple consequences: death, injury, disability, psychological effects, and property damage. It is also clear that working age people are highly affected by road traffic injuries; death of a breadwinner is an irreversible loss and setback to family welfare. Looking at it from a broader perspective, road traffic injuries cost between 1 to 3 percent of Gross National Product to the country, and may be responsible for pushing many families into poverty.
It is clear from the initiatives of the Valley Traffic Police in Kathmandu that coordinated efforts result in reduction of road crashes. For example: use of breathalysers to examine the level of alcohol in drivers has proved to be effective in discouraging driving under influence of alcohol. The use of radar sensor to detect the speed of a vehicle is another experiment which may bring positive results. Similarly, there is a need of automated number plate recognition device which would further regulate the vehicles on the roads. These investments have definitely been helfpul in saving many people from premature deaths but there are some other facts which road users should take note of.
The United Nations has called for global action to minimise such tragic occurrences on the roads of the world by declaring 2011-2020 to be the decade for road safety. Since 2006, the third Sunday of November every year is marked as the World Day of Remembrance for Traffic Victims – observed as global road traffic injury prevention day throughout the world. In Nepal, there were no formal programmes, but the valley traffic police organised Traffic Week that started on this day.
There are rumours that a National Road Safety Strategy is in the offing. However, proper implementation is fundamental for its success. The task of tackling the burden of road crashes requires coordinated efforts from multiple sectors of the government. This year’s theme of UN Road Safety Collaboration – ‘Learning from the Past’ is highly relevant to our context. It is the duty of EVERYONE to learn from the past and contribute in minimising road traffic injuries. It would be relevant to remember all road traffic victims who lost their lives before their time.
The writer is PhD Student at University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol
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