Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios

Laxman K C; Jiwnath Ghimire; Kumud Raj Kafle; Bikash Adhikari

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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| Peer-Reviewed

Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios

Laxman K C^*

, Jiwnath Ghimire

, Kumud Raj Kafle

, Bikash Adhikari

Published in American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 5)

Received: 20 September 2025 Accepted: 30 September 2025 Published: 31 October 2025

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Abstract

Road Safety is one of the critical issues globally Nepal, with rapid unplanned urbanization and growing road networks, has seen a tremendous rise in road casualties in road accidents. This study is an attempt to reveal the existing road safety situations of Nepal. Using the national dataset gathered by Nepal Government, this study examines the evolving road safety challenges of Nepal, focusing on vulnerable road users (VRUs) and systemic gaps. Using multi-year crash data from 2001 to 2024 and statistical analyses, it reveals that motorcycles account for over 50% of traffic crashes with young and middle-aged male drivers facing the highest fatality rates. Similarly, correlation analyses and severity index show that the vulnerability associated with two and three-wheelers is prevalent with instability and limited inbuilt safety features, whereas male above 25 years consistently followed by children below 6 years age are VRUs in Nepal. Early licensing, limited driver training and weak enforcement contribute to high crash involvement among youth. Pillion riders especially female remain at high risk due to low helmet use and lack of regulation. Child fatalities, proportionally lower than other groups, are linked to preventable conditions such as unsafe pedestrian zones and poor protective measures. The outdated transportation acts, absence of spatial crash data and poor local enforcement hinder targeted interventions. Furthermore, lack of proper road design and construction standards and practices, no road safety audit and safety inspection, little-to-zero communication campaigns on road safety, implementation gaps on road safety actions plans with adequate budget and institutional arrangement have exacerbated the road incidents in the country.

Published in	American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
Page(s)	120-134
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Road Safety, Vulnerable Road Users, Severity Index

References

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APA Style

C, L. K., Ghimire, J., Kafle, K. R., Adhikari, B. (2025). Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 10(5), 120-134. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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ACS Style

C, L. K.; Ghimire, J.; Kafle, K. R.; Adhikari, B. Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2025, 10(5), 120-134. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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AMA Style

C LK, Ghimire J, Kafle KR, Adhikari B. Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2025;10(5):120-134. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13,
  author = {Laxman K C and Jiwnath Ghimire and Kumud Raj Kafle and Bikash Adhikari},
  title = {Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios
},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {10},
  number = {5},
  pages = {120-134},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  abstract = {Road Safety is one of the critical issues globally Nepal, with rapid unplanned urbanization and growing road networks, has seen a tremendous rise in road casualties in road accidents. This study is an attempt to reveal the existing road safety situations of Nepal. Using the national dataset gathered by Nepal Government, this study examines the evolving road safety challenges of Nepal, focusing on vulnerable road users (VRUs) and systemic gaps. Using multi-year crash data from 2001 to 2024 and statistical analyses, it reveals that motorcycles account for over 50% of traffic crashes with young and middle-aged male drivers facing the highest fatality rates. Similarly, correlation analyses and severity index show that the vulnerability associated with two and three-wheelers is prevalent with instability and limited inbuilt safety features, whereas male above 25 years consistently followed by children below 6 years age are VRUs in Nepal. Early licensing, limited driver training and weak enforcement contribute to high crash involvement among youth. Pillion riders especially female remain at high risk due to low helmet use and lack of regulation. Child fatalities, proportionally lower than other groups, are linked to preventable conditions such as unsafe pedestrian zones and poor protective measures. The outdated transportation acts, absence of spatial crash data and poor local enforcement hinder targeted interventions. Furthermore, lack of proper road design and construction standards and practices, no road safety audit and safety inspection, little-to-zero communication campaigns on road safety, implementation gaps on road safety actions plans with adequate budget and institutional arrangement have exacerbated the road incidents in the country.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios

AU  - Laxman K C
AU  - Jiwnath Ghimire
AU  - Kumud Raj Kafle
AU  - Bikash Adhikari
Y1  - 2025/10/31
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 120
EP  - 134
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
AB  - Road Safety is one of the critical issues globally Nepal, with rapid unplanned urbanization and growing road networks, has seen a tremendous rise in road casualties in road accidents. This study is an attempt to reveal the existing road safety situations of Nepal. Using the national dataset gathered by Nepal Government, this study examines the evolving road safety challenges of Nepal, focusing on vulnerable road users (VRUs) and systemic gaps. Using multi-year crash data from 2001 to 2024 and statistical analyses, it reveals that motorcycles account for over 50% of traffic crashes with young and middle-aged male drivers facing the highest fatality rates. Similarly, correlation analyses and severity index show that the vulnerability associated with two and three-wheelers is prevalent with instability and limited inbuilt safety features, whereas male above 25 years consistently followed by children below 6 years age are VRUs in Nepal. Early licensing, limited driver training and weak enforcement contribute to high crash involvement among youth. Pillion riders especially female remain at high risk due to low helmet use and lack of regulation. Child fatalities, proportionally lower than other groups, are linked to preventable conditions such as unsafe pedestrian zones and poor protective measures. The outdated transportation acts, absence of spatial crash data and poor local enforcement hinder targeted interventions. Furthermore, lack of proper road design and construction standards and practices, no road safety audit and safety inspection, little-to-zero communication campaigns on road safety, implementation gaps on road safety actions plans with adequate budget and institutional arrangement have exacerbated the road incidents in the country.

VL  - 10
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Laxman K C

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Kavre, Nepal

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4650-5265
Jiwnath Ghimire

Department of Community & Regional Planning, Iowa State University, Iowa, USA

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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3971-2737
Kumud Raj Kafle

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Kavre, Nepal

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2691-6346
Bikash Adhikari

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kathmandu University, Kavre, Nepal

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2179-0246

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APA Style

C, L. K., Ghimire, J., Kafle, K. R., Adhikari, B. (2025). Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 10(5), 120-134. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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ACS Style

C, L. K.; Ghimire, J.; Kafle, K. R.; Adhikari, B. Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2025, 10(5), 120-134. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

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AMA Style

C LK, Ghimire J, Kafle KR, Adhikari B. Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2025;10(5):120-134. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13,
  author = {Laxman K C and Jiwnath Ghimire and Kumud Raj Kafle and Bikash Adhikari},
  title = {Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios
},
  journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
  volume = {10},
  number = {5},
  pages = {120-134},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20251005.13},
  abstract = {Road Safety is one of the critical issues globally Nepal, with rapid unplanned urbanization and growing road networks, has seen a tremendous rise in road casualties in road accidents. This study is an attempt to reveal the existing road safety situations of Nepal. Using the national dataset gathered by Nepal Government, this study examines the evolving road safety challenges of Nepal, focusing on vulnerable road users (VRUs) and systemic gaps. Using multi-year crash data from 2001 to 2024 and statistical analyses, it reveals that motorcycles account for over 50% of traffic crashes with young and middle-aged male drivers facing the highest fatality rates. Similarly, correlation analyses and severity index show that the vulnerability associated with two and three-wheelers is prevalent with instability and limited inbuilt safety features, whereas male above 25 years consistently followed by children below 6 years age are VRUs in Nepal. Early licensing, limited driver training and weak enforcement contribute to high crash involvement among youth. Pillion riders especially female remain at high risk due to low helmet use and lack of regulation. Child fatalities, proportionally lower than other groups, are linked to preventable conditions such as unsafe pedestrian zones and poor protective measures. The outdated transportation acts, absence of spatial crash data and poor local enforcement hinder targeted interventions. Furthermore, lack of proper road design and construction standards and practices, no road safety audit and safety inspection, little-to-zero communication campaigns on road safety, implementation gaps on road safety actions plans with adequate budget and institutional arrangement have exacerbated the road incidents in the country.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Road Safety in Numbers: Using Data to Illustrate the Nepal’s Scenarios

AU  - Laxman K C
AU  - Jiwnath Ghimire
AU  - Kumud Raj Kafle
AU  - Bikash Adhikari
Y1  - 2025/10/31
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
SP  - 120
EP  - 134
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-8604
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20251005.13
AB  - Road Safety is one of the critical issues globally Nepal, with rapid unplanned urbanization and growing road networks, has seen a tremendous rise in road casualties in road accidents. This study is an attempt to reveal the existing road safety situations of Nepal. Using the national dataset gathered by Nepal Government, this study examines the evolving road safety challenges of Nepal, focusing on vulnerable road users (VRUs) and systemic gaps. Using multi-year crash data from 2001 to 2024 and statistical analyses, it reveals that motorcycles account for over 50% of traffic crashes with young and middle-aged male drivers facing the highest fatality rates. Similarly, correlation analyses and severity index show that the vulnerability associated with two and three-wheelers is prevalent with instability and limited inbuilt safety features, whereas male above 25 years consistently followed by children below 6 years age are VRUs in Nepal. Early licensing, limited driver training and weak enforcement contribute to high crash involvement among youth. Pillion riders especially female remain at high risk due to low helmet use and lack of regulation. Child fatalities, proportionally lower than other groups, are linked to preventable conditions such as unsafe pedestrian zones and poor protective measures. The outdated transportation acts, absence of spatial crash data and poor local enforcement hinder targeted interventions. Furthermore, lack of proper road design and construction standards and practices, no road safety audit and safety inspection, little-to-zero communication campaigns on road safety, implementation gaps on road safety actions plans with adequate budget and institutional arrangement have exacerbated the road incidents in the country.

VL  - 10
IS  - 5
ER  -

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