Lessons to learn from the Chabahil killing of Pedestrians

There is news of a route bus killing three pedestrians in Chabahil, Kathmandu. When life is terminated prematurely it is always a tragedy, for protection and promotion of life is after all the ultimate purpose. When something like this happens, there has to be serious reflections on the matter on several parts. And LESSONS HAVE TO BE LEARNT.

The recipe for accidents
The population of Kathmandu has been increasing for several reasons. The demand for transportation has risen and so the number of vehicles on the roads are ever on the rise.
With increased burden our roads are often not in good shape, therefore forcing drivers to drive in curves. Imagine the result of unexpected potholes leading to wild sways by drivers in busy roads like Putali Sadak.
The introduction of traffic lights are a welcome move, but it is not uncommon to see drivers speeding up at a red traffic light if no traffic policeman is around.
The traffic policeman/woman in Kathmandu is a figure of pity suffering amidst the high noise and air pollution. Therefore he/she cannot be expected to function efficiently.
There is an ever increasing number of people running about in Kathmandu, all of them in a rush and running wildly over railings and even through sections of the motorable road at times. The footpaths are not enough for the people.
Route buses are under pressure to pick up the odd traveller who might be waiting at tentatively defined stops or even between them.
Young people easily think that they will escape the attention of the tired traffic cop once again driving without a licence or driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol. It is something to big up about among their friends. Moreover their parents seem to be alright with such activities.
And then we have our VIPs creating traffic chaos whenever they move about. With all parties in the parliament showing signs of fracture induced by things like greed, fear, "instruction from the south", "instruction from the north" etc. the cabinet is always likely to be big, therby adding to the number of VIPs who obstruct traffic. Not to forget there are also VIPs who expect not only to be saluted by the traffic cops but also to be road-cleared.

Some basic things that should change
Well what I just wrote above is clear to all. We all know that. But for a system to function we need to make clear laws to avoid them. here are a few suggestions that should not be difficult to follow, if the administration were to be interested.

1. Ensure that noone uses the road without a driving licence.
Well there is a mechanism in place to check this. But obviously more needs to be done. That would mean not just a fine but also stricter measures like disqualifying someone found driving without a licence for say up to five years for a licence application. A repeat offense should be dealt with the above plus imprisonment.

2. Introduce a separate licence class for driving public transport vehicles and taxis.
Driving on public roads should be associated with a big responsibility. Driving with passengers behind you has to do with even more responsibility. Therefore driving public transport vehicles and taxis should be allowed only under possession of a "Public Driver" licence. The conditions for applying for one such licence should be different and should involve a minimum age higher than the regular licence-qualifying age and also a minimum number of years of possession of the ordinary licence.

3.Strictly prohibit people on the road except on defined areas.
We need to learn that the road is for vehicles and that there is no way that we simply jump over the barriers and walk on the roads because that is convenient to us. We have learnt the wrong thing and so for corrective action we need a very strict law. people walking on the road other than on defined areas should be punished with hefty fines.

4. Driving under influence
There is a mechanism in place to punish this. But it seems there are too many loopholes to the law such that offenders can easily escape, even when their recklessness kills someone. We have recently witnessed such an incident. That is simply INEXCUSABLE. Driving in a city like Kathmandu amidst the above described chaos requires a lot of attention and a minimal compromise due to drugs or alcohol is inevitably an invite to disaster. Therefore driving under influence should be punished with utmost strictness. At least cancellation of licence for a few years and a hefty fine. In the case of an accident involving a driver under influence there should be a driving ban of at least ten years to a lifetime ban and an imprisonment as well.

5. Road tax to private vehicle owners
Private vehicle owners should be made to pay significant amounts of money, not just namesake sums. Oftentimes private vehicles run with a driver and one passenger, which is something our cities cannot afford, at least not at the moment. Therefore in addition to a yearly tax they pay private vehicles should be taxed on a daily basis at suitable sections of the roads.

6. Define stops more precisely
Route bus stops should be defined precisely and these should be strictly followed. Non compliance should be fined with ridding of the public driver licence for a few days for example and a fine to the operating company.

7. Define maximum number of people on board
It is not possible right now to implement only-seated-passenger policy. But it should be possible to define the maximum number of passengers that should be allowed to travel in any given vehicle. That should be indicated on the exterior of any route vehicle and non-compliance should again be seriously punished.

8. Reduce working hours of traffic policemen and increase their salary.
Stricter implementation of laws like the ones described above would most certainly help generate revenue that should be used to decrease the workload of traffic policemen and to increase their pay.

...And then if there if money left in the coffer there is always so much to do like mark lanes on roads, install more traffic lights and signs etc.

Lives have been lost and will be lost if we fail to bring about a change in our ways of looking at the road and road traffic incidents. Let us promise to be honest to ourselves. We are on the path of building a new Nepal, eh? So why fear changes that might help us get better and our roads get safer.