KATHMANDU: Pedestrians in Kathmandu are increasingly finding that the designated zebra crossings, meant to provide safe passage across roads, are often disregarded by vehicle drivers and, at times, overlooked by traffic police.
Zebra crossings, marked by white stripes on the road, are fundamental to pedestrian safety, similar to overhead bridges.
Traffic laws explicitly state that all vehicles must prioritize pedestrians at these crossings, stopping before the marked lines to allow safe passage.
While signs warning of fines for violations are posted and traffic police are deployed on the streets to enforce these rules, the reality on the ground appears to be quite different.
Many drivers, particularly those of motorcycles and public vehicles, are frequently observed stopping directly on or even past the zebra lines. In some cases, public transport drivers reportedly stop their buses precisely on the crossing to pick up passengers, further impeding pedestrian flow.
This blatant disregard for traffic regulations has left pedestrians feeling unsafe.
“Pedestrians should be able to cross the road confidently at a zebra crossing, but drivers don’t stop even when you signal,” lamented a pedestrian attempting to cross at Maitighar. “Drivers are irresponsible, and even the traffic police just stand there watching.”
The pedestrian added that motorcycles and public vehicles are the primary culprits in ignoring these vital safety zones.
According to Section 132 of the Vehicle and Transport Management Act, 2049 (Amended 2075), it is clearly stated that vehicles must stop at zebra crossings when people are crossing or when traffic lights indicate a stop at an intersection. However, observations on Kathmandu’s roads suggest that zebra crossings are rarely clear, and it’s uncommon to see vehicles stopping to allow pedestrians to cross safely.
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