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Kathmandu Friday July 07, 2000 Ahsad 23, 2057.
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Enforce traffic laws
Incidents of traffic violation involving
pedestrians and two and four wheelers which have resulted in fatal accidents in Kathmandu
valley have become a matter of grave concern. The main reasons why the number of accidents
are on the rise are: ineffective implementation of traffic rules and non-compliance with
safety standards by those who move on two and four wheelers. If the Valley Traffic Police
Office (VTPO) does not implement traffic rules effectively, the rate of accidents will
continue to increase. VTPO has no other option but to impose traffic laws strictly if it
wants to discourage traffic violations and to reduce accidents.
Police records reveal that there have been
over 153 accidents during the last ten months. Of the total, cars and two wheelers
contributed more than fifty percent. Apparently, 72 people had to lose their lives due to
weak traffic measures. Of them, 25 died in motorcycle accidents, 15 were killed due to bus
mishaps and 11 pedestrians died while crossing the road. What is surprising is that even
though more than 20 drivers are booked every week as a result of drunken driving, the
traffic police have hardly taken any action against them. This apart, reports have it that
over 1800 drivers who violate traffic rules each week, manage to get away by bribing
traffic police officers. There is no doubt that the tendency among many traffic officers
to receive petty bribes has encouraged traffic violations.
Transport Management Act 1992 states that
pillion riders on two wheelers are supposed to wear helmet and those occupying the front
seat of a car have to use seat-belts for safety. However, the traffic police have imposed
this rule neither on pillion riders of two wheelers nor on those who occupy the front seat
of any car. Pedestrians cross roads when the red light is on though they know the rule,
but nothing is done to them. Two and four wheelers violate the rules at every point and
park their vehicles at no-parking zones. As a result of this, one has to wait hours to
clear traffic jams in major thoroughfares. It is also a fact that there is no regulation
policy for the import and registration of old vehicles which ply the streets of Kathmandu.
Had the traffic police implemented rules and taken action against the violators, the rate
of fatal accidents would have certainly been less. It is sad but true that VTPO has failed
to implement traffic rules and also to maintain smooth flow of daily traffic.
It is high time the VTPO really worked to create awareness of
traffic laws among the public. It must also be strict about enforcing the law against
drunken driving and those who do not comply with the rules. Such measures will go a long
way to lessen the rate of accidents. The sooner VTPO gets down to enforcing traffic laws
in earnest, the safer it will be for the people. Last but not the least VTPO authorities
must also see to it that petty corruption related to violation of traffic rules is curbed.
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