Re-orienting towards Safer Roads Infrastructure in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal recently updated its National Road Safety Action Plan (2013-2020) for the period 2021-2030, aiming to reduce the alarming rise in road crashes, fatalities, and major injuries observed over the past decade. The paper primarily delves into the multiple facets of safer road infrastructure while specific design standards exist for national, rural, and urban roads, guiding engineers in the initial stages of road design and construction to ensure safety—many parameters, such as radius, sight distance, and gradient, are frequently overlooked, especially on hill roads. The road safety audit stands out as the most effective method for pinpointing safety issues throughout the road construction process, from the planning phase to operation, and for suggesting necessary safety enhancements. Nonetheless, the actual implementation of these audits remains inadequate. Additionally, the paper sheds light on the state of road crashes, the institutional framework dedicated to safe road infrastructure development, specific guidelines and standards about road safety, and the current status of road safety audits and other interventions across road projects in Nepal.