Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) are the leading cause of morbidity, disability and mortality in Nepal.

According to the Traffic Directorate, maximum RTAs occur due to high driving speed, blind turns and the rider’s critical health condition. In the year 2072/073 the number of RTAs registered was 4119 whereas in the year 2073/074 the number reached up to 5205. This shows an increasing trend in road traffic accidents in Nepal.

However, a study ‘ Completeness of police reporting of traffic crashes in Nepal’ published in January 2022, showed there was low reporting in the police records in relation to road traffic accidents resulting in minor injury and property damage.

 Local record keepers who worked and lived at high risk locations were recruited and their data was compared to the police records for the same amount of time and location. The overall police crash reporting rate was only 19.7% in comparison to the local record keeper’s data.