Analyzing Road Infrastructure and Safety in Urban Nepal: A Synthesis of Existing Research

Author(s): Aryan Bhattarai, Shira Shafir

Road safety is a pressing public health issue in Nepal, exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and ineffective traffic management. This research investigates in detail how Nepal's road infrastructure impacts urban traffic safety through an analysis of 21 peer-reviewed papers. Key contributors to road traffic accidents (RTAs) identified, included poor road conditions, reckless driving, and adverse weather conditions, which altogether increased morbidity, mortality, and economic burdens. For example, in 2020 alone, Nepal saw 2,789 deaths from 13,366 RTAs (Ojha et al, 2021). As reduced worker productivity cost USD 91.57 million out of a total of USD 122.88 million back in 2017, the financial burden RTAs impose on Nepal’s economy is substantial (Banstola, 2020).To enhance road safety, it is recommended to revise and implement a more efficient EMS system, improve road infrastructure, enforce traffic laws more strictly, and educate impacted demographic groups through tailored education on reckless driving.