Kathmandu, Nepal – The 8th United Nations Global Road Safety Week, observed from May 12–18, 2025, brings together countries, organizations, and communities worldwide to advocate for safer roads and protect lives. This year’s campaign focuses on creating "Streets for Life" and highlights the importance of reducing speed limits, ensuring safe walking and cycling environments, and fostering a culture of shared responsibility among all road users.
In Nepal, where road traffic injuries and fatalities remain a pressing concern, this week serves as a crucial reminder of the collective action needed to make the nation’s roads safer. With the theme #MakeCyclingSafe and #MakeWalkingSafe, the campaign calls for measures to protect vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, through lower speed zones, improved infrastructure, and public awareness.
Key Campaign Messages:
Slow Down: Advocating for a maximum speed limit of 30 km/h in urban and residential areas to prevent collisions and minimize the severity of accidents.
Keep Distance: Encouraging drivers to maintain safe distances from other vehicles and road users to prevent rear-end crashes.
Stay Alert: Promoting attentive driving, free from distractions such as mobile phones, to enhance situational awareness.
Buckle Up: Reinforcing the importance of wearing seatbelts for drivers and passengers as a life-saving measure.
The initiative, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, and various other organizations, aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to halve road traffic injuries and deaths by 2030. Local organizers in Nepal, including government bodies and non-governmental organizations, have planned various activities such as awareness rallies, workshops, and public service announcements to promote road safety.
According to recent statistics, road accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in Nepal, disproportionately affecting young people and economically active age groups. The government’s renewed focus on road safety, inspired by the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, is expected to bring significant changes in policies, urban planning, and enforcement of traffic laws.
Voices from the Campaign “We all have a role to play in making our roads safer,” said a representative from the campaign’s organizing team. “Whether we are walking, cycling, or driving, small actions like slowing down and staying alert can save countless lives.”
As Nepal participates in this global movement, it underscores the urgent need for collective efforts to make streets safer and more inclusive. By prioritizing road safety, the country takes a vital step toward building a sustainable and resilient future for all its citizens.
