Crashes On Road, Causes And Caveats

About seven people die daily due to road traffic crashes (RTCs) in Nepal, according to the Nepal Police. Approximately 20 people per 100,000 lose their lives in RTCs annually. Yet many people do not even realise that these casualties are largely preventable. The most harrowing fact is that fatalities have been rising. Weak governance, corruption, impunity, and inaction turn preventable crashes into predictable tragedies. RTCs are among the major killers in Nepal. The economic loss is also staggering. The World Bank estimates that road accidents cost the country 1.5–2 per cent of its GDP annually.

Nepal Disaster Report 2024 mentions that in 120,626 cases of RTCs, which occurred during 2018-2024, a total of 15,169 people (12,303 male and 2,865 female) were killed. The reason for the disproportionate gendered casualty can be attributed to the relatively low mobility of women. It is also indicative of the status of women's empowerment. The higher the inability, the lower the mobility. There is a correlation between the growing number of RTCs and rapid urbanisation. Kathmandu alone amounted to a whopping 58,375 cases with 1,126 casualties during the period. Data also shows that two-wheelers – motorbikes, scooters, and mopeds – outnumber other vehicles in RTCs. 

A total of 95,978 crashes of two-wheelers and 45,448 cases of jeeps/cars were recorded from across the country between 2018 and 2024. Nepal ranks 8th in RTCs in Asia and 72nd globally. Thailand has the highest RTC fatality in Asia, with 30.48 deaths per 100,000 people. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar have 16.33, 16.74, 15.18, 17.35, 18.07, and 20.94 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively. The Maldives and Singapore are the safest countries with 1.85 and 1.65 fatality rates per 100,000 people, respectively.  

Out of 33 countries’ recorded death rates in RTCs, Nepal’s fatality rate is shocking and rising over the years. Since fiscal year (FY) 2013/14, the death rate has been climbing steadily. In fiscal year 2013/14, the death toll was 1,787, which in 2018/19 rose to 2,789.  The numbers could go even higher due to under-reporting, and different definitions and timing. Often missing crashes in police reports, fiscal vs calendar year reporting, and whether post-30-day deaths are included, cause discrepancies in data. Many South Asian countries have weak crash-reporting systems: pedestrian deaths, rural crashes, and post-crash deaths may be undercounted.

Causes

Human factors remain the leading cause of rising RTCs in Nepal, with driver error alone accounting for more than 70 per cent of incidents. Speeding, recklessness, drunk driving, mobile phone distraction, and fatigue—especially among long-route drivers—combine with weak adherence to basic safety norms such as helmet use, lane discipline, and child restraints lead to the crashes. 

Corruption and governance failures underpin many of the country’s road hazards. Inflated contracts, repeated extensions, and political protection create a culture where poor-quality construction, substandard materials, and delayed completion become normalised. The chronic neglect of drainage, shoulders, barriers, signage, and markings—epitomised by the Narayangadh–Butwal highway section—directly increases crash risks and public costs.

Nepal’s rugged terrain and volatile weather add natural dangers to already fragile infrastructure. Roads wind through steep slopes, narrow corridors, and sharp bends, while fog, rain, snow, landslides, and unpaved sections routinely compromise visibility and traction. Many stretches lack guardrails or proper surfacing, particularly in the remote areas. Poor engineering and maintenance further heighten risks. Nearly 60 per cent of the road network is classified as poor or fair, characterised by potholes, eroded edges, blocked drains, missing markings, and inadequate lighting. Many roads remain unrepaired for long periods, turning minor defects into major hazards.

Unsafe and aging vehicles also contribute to the road accidents significantly. Overcrowded buses, weak brakes, worn tyres, and poor fitness checks are common, exacerbated by transport syndicates that resist the replacement of old vehicles. These conditions make mechanical failure a recurring contributor to crashes. Enforcement remains weak, with minimal fines for overspeeding, overloading, or drunk driving, and bribery or political influence often shielding offenders. Explosive vehicle growth—from 244,000 in 1990 to over 5 million in 2024—has far outpaced road capacity, intensifying congestion, chaos, and crash probability.

Motorcycles, which constitute nearly 79 per cent of all registered vehicles, are involved in close to two-thirds of fatal crashes. Their high numbers, combined with risk-taking behaviour and limited protective infrastructure, disproportionately push up fatality rates.Post-crash response remains inadequate, particularly outside major cities. Limited number of ambulances, few trauma centres , long rescue times, and the absence of trained first responders mean many injured people die of treatable causes. Delays in rural evacuations significantly worsen survival outcomes.

Institutional fragmentation further weakens road safety. The Department of Roads, Traffic Police, and Transport Management operate with poor coordination, and despite laws aligned with global standards, implementation falters due to limited resources and rampant corruption. Rapid and unplanned urbanisation has overwhelmed city road networks, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley, where vehicle growth exceeds 10 per cent annually while road expansion lags at under 1 per cent. Poorly designed intersections, inadequate parking, and the absence of traffic signals compound congestion and increase crash likelihood.

Caveats

Nepal’s mounting RCTs reflect not the inevitability of terrain but the consequences of weak governance. Hours lost in traffic, wasted fuel, commuter exhaustion, and inflated transport costs add an uncounted economic burden to the country. Poorly built roads, unfit vehicles, and weak enforcement result in fatal accidents, while low fines and pervasive impunity fail to deter dangerous behaviour. What begins as a road accident often ends as a livelihood crisis for affected families. 

As one of South Asia’s deadliest countries for RTCs, Nepal faces a clear warning: without serious investment in safer infrastructure, strong law enforcement, proper signage, adequate personnel, and accountability, fatalities will continue to rise. Unless road safety is treated as a governance issue—rather than merely a traffic problem—the casualty count will remain Nepal’s most urgent and persistent caveat.

(Sedhai is a freelance writer.)