KATHMANDU: Lawmakers attending a meeting of the House of Representatives Infrastructure Development Committee have stressed the need for technology-friendly monitoring systems, greater public awareness and effective implementation of traffic laws to reduce road accidents.
Committee members suggested installing digital devices capable of automatically alerting drivers when vehicles exceed speed limits and emphasized integrating modern technology into road safety management.
During the meeting, committee chair Ashish Gajurel highlighted that around 3,000 people lose their lives in road accidents annually and called for effective enforcement of road safety policies.
Lawmaker Basana Thapa stressed the need to strengthen public awareness programs related to road safety. She noted that the suspension of nighttime transportation services in Karnali Province had contributed positively to reducing accidents, but said its broader impact on public life should also be assessed.
Similarly, lawmaker Rajendra Kumar Rai said the use of mobile phones and listening to music while driving were also contributing to the rise in road accidents. He emphasized the importance of driver discipline and awareness.
Lawmaker Gopal Sharma called for special initiatives to improve roads in rural areas, stating that investment in surveillance technology could help reduce traffic accidents. He also stressed the need for road expansion in Karnali to facilitate nighttime transportation services.
Lawmaker Asha Jha said road construction projects should be completed on time, while Raju Pandey called for a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation status of road safety laws.
Pandey said the expansion of modern technology use should be prioritized rather than relying solely on increasing manpower.
At the meeting, Gopal Prasad Sigdel said landslides had created additional challenges for road safety. He also noted that roadside advertisement boards were contributing to accidents and urged local governments to pay special attention to the management of local road networks.
Road safety expert Bhagwati Sedhai said requiring passengers riding on the back of motorcycles and scooters to wear helmets could help reduce fatalities and injuries.
He also stressed the need to ensure the use of standard-quality helmets, increase the number of traffic police personnel and establish a separate Road Safety Council dedicated to improving road safety nationwide.
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