Kathmandu: While road accidents and fatalities in various parts of the country have raised concerns among the public and policymakers, the Kathmandu Valley has seen a decline in road incidents in recent years.
According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, road accidents have decreased by 16.8% and human fatalities have dropped by 6% compared to the previous fiscal year.
Office Spokesperson SP Bishwaraj Khadka reported that 177 people died in 8,881 road accidents in the fiscal year 2023/24, down from 187 deaths in 10,675 accidents in the previous fiscal year.
In 2022/23, 191 people lost their lives in 10,733 road accidents. SP Khadka attributed the reduction in road accidents to several factors, including public awareness programs, strict security checks, and various traffic campaigns that have improved traffic management.
He noted that plans to further enhance traffic management to reduce accidents have been proposed for the current fiscal year. The public awareness programs have encouraged road users to follow traffic rules and prioritize road safety.
Traffic awareness campaigns have directly benefited 477,303 people so far, Khadka added. Office Chief SSP Jivan Kumar Shrestha highlighted that these campaigns have helped reduce accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, non-compliance with lane discipline, and speeding.
He mentioned that traffic police have taken action against over one million traffic rule violators, collecting over Rs 720 million in fines. Regular patrolling in inner streets, narrow roads, and river corridors, along with the expansion of traffic beats in several places, has also contributed to the decrease in road incidents, SSP Shrestha said.
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