Motorcycle accidents account for 68 percent of those killed or injured in road accidents or crashes that occur in Nepal, according to a new report.

Due to the hassles in public transport, two-wheelers especially motorcycles and scooters are very much popular, especially among the youths in Nepal.

However, the final report of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022 carried out by the Ministry of Health and Population between January 5 and June 22 last year with technical and financial support from the USAID, depicted an alarming figure of deaths and injuries in road accidents, involving motorcycles.

On average, 14 deaths occur due to road traffic injuries per 100,000 population in Nepal. More males (11 deaths per 100,000) than females (three deaths per 100,000) die due to injuries suffered during road accidents.

“The most common type of road traffic accidents or crashes in Nepal involve motorcycles. Two-wheeler accidents account for 68 percent of those killed or injured in the 12 months preceding the survey,” stated the report.

A large number of those involved in road traffic accidents have non-fatal injuries. Overall, 1,088 individuals per 100,000 population (301 per 100,000 females and 787 per 100,000 males) sustain nonfatal injuries due to road accidents or crashes.

There were 1,102 deaths and injuries for every 100,000 people due to road accidents and injuries in the 12 months preceding the survey.

The study showed females and males aged 15-24 years are more prone to road accidents that might lead to death or nonfatal injuries (1,659 individuals died or injured per 100,000 population) than those in the other age groups.

Similarly, deaths and injuries due to road accidents are higher in urban areas (1,236 per 100,000 population) than in rural areas (833 per 100,000 population).

Road accidents or crashes caused the most deaths and injuries in the Madhesh Province (1,430 per 100,000 population), followed by Bagmati Province (1,156 per 100,000 population), Sudurpaschim Province (1,112 per 100,000 population), and Lumbini Province (1,017 per 100,000 population).

The study showed that of those injured or killed, 12 percent were involved in bicycle accidents, four percent in bus accidents, and another four percent in three wheeler tempo-related accidents. Five percent were involved in pedestrian road accidents or crashes.

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of those who were injured in road accidents in the last 12 months had a cut or an open wound, while 28 percent had broken bones, 23 percent percent had internal injuries, and 13 percent sustained head injuries.

One-fifth (21 percent) of the severely injured individuals lost limb function, while five percent suffered brain damage.

The study showed that motorcycle accidents are mostly prevalent in the Bagmati Province (75 percent).

According to the latest data from the Department of the Transport management, motorbikes constitute around 80 percent of the total fleet of motor vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley, followed by private vehicles at around 13 percent and heavy duty vehicles at four percent and public transport vehicles, which constitute around three percent.

The National Planning Commission estimated the road accident death rate in Nepal to be 15.9 deaths per 100,000 population. Overall, there were 14,736 injuries and 2,789 deaths related to road crashes in the fiscal year 2018-2019.

A report by the Nepal Police showed that a total of 2,883 individuals died and 7,282 others sustained severe injuries due to road crashes during the fiscal year 2021-2022.

As part of a global commitment, Nepal has adopted SDG Target 3.6 on road safety under which the country aimed to halve the number of road traffic fatalities and injuries by 2030.

Worldwide, road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of deaths among people of all ages and the leading cause of death among children and young adults aged 5-29 years. The burden of road traffic deaths is disproportionately high among the low- and middle-income countries with relation to the size of their populations and the number of motor vehicles in circulation, according to the World Health Organisation.

Injuries sustained in road traffic accidents cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and nations. Nations also suffer social losses as a result of accidents, according to the UN health body.