Nepal's Deadly Roads: Urgent Call for National Road Safety Policy Implementation

Kathmandu. 'Every day, Nepalis leave their homes for work, but seven of them never return.' The reason is that Nepal's roads are no longer just a means of travel; they have become 'death traps.' Government statistics reveal a grim reality: an average of seven people lose their lives daily due to road accidents in Nepal. This amounts to over 2,500 deaths annually, a figure comparable to a major epidemic or natural disaster.

Road travel in Nepal is unsafe. The government drafted a National Road Safety Policy over a year ago to improve road safety and minimize accidents. The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport prepared the draft and published it on its website for feedback, yet no initiatives have been taken to implement it.