Twenty-eight-year-old Neema Sherpa from Kathmandu vividly recalls the incident when she became a victim of a hit-and-run case. “The bike hit me when I was crossing the road at the zebra crossing,” she explains. Although a zebra crossing is designed for pedestrian safety, her experiences raise serious questions about riders’ accountability and the enforcement of traffic rules.
The rising cases of accidents underscore the critical importance of road safety to ensure a safer transportation system. Bibek Thapaliya, a bike rider from Kathmandu, says with the rise of traffic accidents, his parents are worried about his safety. Thapaliya’s parents are not alone. Rajani Karki reflects her experience as a parent. “I remember the day when I allowed my daughter to ride a scooter on the road. My anxiety grew when she didn’t come home on time,” she says.
This incident raises questions not only about the state of road safety but also about the psychological stress that families endure amid rising accident cases. Despite these fears, not all riders exercise caution. One anonymous rider from Kathmandu admits to frequently violating the traffic rules. “When stuck in a jam, many young riders, including myself, tend to violate rules in an attempt to get ahead,” he says.
Peer behaviour and pressure often contribute to such recklessness among young riders. This tendency is supported by research from the US National Library of Medicine, which found that peer influence is a pervasive force during adolescence, one that shapes adaptive and maladaptive attitudes and behaviours.
Pasang Tenzing Lama, another rider, believes that young people today have the mentality to impress others rather than riding responsibly. “I have seen many cases of motorcycle accidents involving young riders who were careless on the road,” he says.
Overspeeding, stunt riding, and a lack of proper safety gear are common among young riders. For many, owning a motorcycle is more than just about transportation. “Besides avoiding the daily chaos of public transport, owning a motorcycle is also about freedom and style,” says Anish Regmi, a motorcycle rider.
But when personal satisfaction takes precedence over public safety, the consequences can be dire.
Aryan Karki (name changed), a young rider from Kathmandu, recalls his life upside down when his motorcycle collided with a bus, leaving him with multiple fractures and injuries. Karki says one moment sent him to bed for over eight months. The emotional and psychological toll of that incident still haunts Karki. “Yes, motorcycles are convenient, but a minor error can lead to years of suffering,” he says.
Motorcycles account for the highest share of road accidents in Nepal. According to the data of Nepal Police, 25,788 vehicles were involved in accidents in the fiscal year 2019/20, and 10,869 of those vehicles were motorcycles. In the fiscal year 2020/21, out of 33,135 vehicles involved in road accidents, 17,087 were motorcycles. In the fiscal year 2021/22, there 39,379 vehicles were involved in road accidents, and 19,974 were motorcycles. The fiscal year 2022/23 saw 23,597 accidents involving 37,393 vehicles, including 19,511 motorcycles. In the fiscal year 2023/24, 22,927 accidents were reported, with 35,404 vehicles involved, of which 19,984 were motorcycles.
So far, in the current fiscal year 2024/25, 22,860 accidents occurred, involving 34,358 vehicles, including 20,183 motorcycles, which is a high number of motorcycles being involved in accidents in these five years. In the same year, serious injuries peaked at 12,655. These data from the last five years represent the growing issue of motorcycle accidents. These disturbing cases demand urgent attention and public safety interventions. The data depicts that motorcycle involvement has remained consistently high, and they are contributing to a larger share of deaths and serious injuries.
Uttam Shrestha, a taxi driver, elaborates on the risky behavior he observes among young riders. “Young bikes are often overconfident and they are always in a hurry to get ahead ,” he says. “I believe basic traffic education must be a mandatory part of driving training.”
Sahadev Sinjali, another taxi driver, says another issue affecting road safety is the use of mobile phones and earphones while riding. “When your concentration is elsewhere while riding a vehicle, you risk yourself and others,” he says.
Shyam Kumar Subedi, who has over 15 years of motorcycle riding experience, says youths today need to understand the real impact of careless riding.
A Kathmandu-based emergency doctor warns about both physical and psychological damage from road accidents. “Some injuries can be life-threatening. Others can cause lasting mental trauma,” he says.
He also points out how social media is promoting reckless riding. “Young people today watch dangerous motorcycle stunts and they are eager to imitate them, without proper safety gear, unaware of the risks,” he says.
Traffic police acknowledge the rising case of motorcycle accidents and say they are taking steps. They say while road safety awareness programs are being run, speed-monitoring systems have been installed, and routing traffic checks are being performed, these initiatives alone will not ensure road safety as long as the person behind the vehicle is not cautious.
