"Riding Through Change: My Road Safety Mission Post-Accident"

“Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) take more lives annually in Nepal than floods, landslides, plane crashes, and other accidents and natural disasters combined.

A total of 2,320 people lost their lives in road traffic accidents between April 2022 and April 2023, while 28,856 people were injured, many of them impaired for life.

In that same time frame, floods, landslides and aircraft accidents in total killed 194 people and injured 105.”

The data on deaths and injuries from road accidents is indeed alarming, but it only scratches the surface of a much deeper issue. With every road accident and physical injury, comes the underlying trauma of being part of a road accident or witnessing your near and dear ones suffer because of the injuries sustained. This data is not available anywhere and this unseen trauma is rarely mentioned.

My personal experience underscores this point. I was part of a dangerous road accident that took place on Bhaktapur Highway in November, 2022. My motorbike collided with a scooter on which two people were riding. I was fortunate enough in the sense that nothing happened to either of us and I survived to tell the story but on the flip side I had to spend the next two months on crutches. With my movements limited, I had the chance to explore topics related to road safety initiatives in Nepal and around the world. That is when I came across the above data sourced from Nepal Police.

It was truly eye-opening. This realization drove me to explore further into how we could prevent such accidents. I decided to enroll in the course "Think Road Safety - Road Safety Training for External Partners" to gain deeper insights into effective prevention strategies.

This self paced course by the World Bank provided me with a comprehensive overview of road safety management, emphasizing the Safe System approach, road infrastructure safety, vehicle safety, road user behavior, post-crash response, and data monitoring. I got to learn about best practices in designing and maintaining safer roads, enhancing vehicle safety standards, influencing road user behavior through education and enforcement, improving emergency response systems, and using data to inform policies and interventions.

Here are a few Key Learnings from the course:

1. Road Safety Management:

• Understanding the framework for effective road safety management.
• Identifying roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders.

2. Safe System Approach:

• Implementing a holistic approach to road safety that emphasizes safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles, and safe road users.
• Designing systems that can tolerate human error and reduce the risk of severe injuries.

3. Road Infrastructure Safety:

• Best practices in designing and maintaining safer roads and infrastructure.
• Techniques for conducting road safety audits and assessments.

4. Vehicle Safety:

• Enhancing vehicle safety standards and technologies to prevent crashes and reduce injury severity.
• Promoting the use of safer vehicles through policies and incentives.

5. Road User Behavior:

• Influencing road user behavior through education, enforcement, and community engagement.
• Developing public awareness campaigns to promote safe driving habits.

6. Post-Crash Response:

• Improving emergency response and post-crash care systems to save lives.
• Establishing protocols for timely and effective medical assistance.

7. Data and Monitoring:

• Using data and evidence to inform road safety policies and interventions.
• Monitoring and evaluating road safety programs to measure their impact and effectiveness.

After this, I worked out on how the takeaways from this course can be utilized in the context of Nepal. Here are a few points that I came up with:

1. Strengthening Road Safety Management:

• Establish a dedicated road safety authority to coordinate efforts across different sectors.
• Develop and implement a national road safety strategy with clear targets and action plans.

2. Adopting the Safe System Approach:

• Redesign roads and intersections to minimize the risk of crashes and protect vulnerable road users.
• Implement traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts, and pedestrian crossings.

3. Improving Road Infrastructure Safety:

• Conduct regular road safety audits and assessments to identify and address high-risk areas.
• Invest in upgrading and maintaining road infrastructure, especially in rural and remote areas.

4. Enhancing Vehicle Safety:

• Introduce and enforce stringent vehicle safety standards and periodic inspections.
• Promote the use of modern, safer vehicles through tax incentives and public awareness campaigns.

5. Promoting Safe Road User Behavior:

• Launch nationwide road safety education and awareness programs targeting drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• Strengthen traffic law enforcement to deter risky behaviors such as speeding, drunk driving, and not wearing seat belts.

6. Improving Post-Crash Response:

• Develop a robust emergency response system with well-equipped ambulances and trained personnel.
• Establish trauma care centers along major highways to provide timely medical assistance to crash victims.

7. Utilizing Data and Monitoring:

• Create a centralized road safety database to collect and analyze crash data.
• Use data-driven insights to design targeted interventions and monitor their effectiveness.

Implementing the insights from the course can significantly transform road safety in Nepal. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders, enhancing infrastructure, promoting safe driving behaviors, and leveraging data-driven strategies, we can create safer roads for everyone. Together, we can reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries, ensuring that our roads are safe spaces for all citizens to travel with confidence and peace of mind. Let's commit to this vision and work towards a future where every journey is a safe journey.

Can you shed some light on the current state of road safety in Nepal and share ideas on how we might enhance it? Feel free to drop in a comment!