KATHMANDU, Jan 9: Nepali Congress lawmakers registered a public importance motion at parliament on Tuesday, demanding that parliament direct the government to take immediate steps for road safety.
Stating that 8,982 people were killed in 40,777 road accidents between 2013 and 2018, the opposition party lawmakers have sought greater road safety awareness, policy corrections and stricter vehicle regulations among other measures to scale back the road carnage.
NC lawmaker Dila Sangraula proposed the motion while former minister Sanjay Kumar Gautam and Rangamati Shahi, another lawmaker, seconded it.
Motion of public importance tabled in HoR
“Road accidents have been increasing every year because the roads are not safe and the government is insensitive,” reads the motion.
“Irrespective of this situation we have failed to update the relevant laws which date back to when the number of vehicles on the roads was about 100,000 and the road network was very small.”
The motion has suggested amending the Transport Management Act (2049 BS) and the Vehicle and Transport Management Regulations 2054, which were enacted 26 and 20 years back respectively.
Similarly, the lawmakers have demanded a mechanism to see to immediate rescue and treatment for road accident injured.
The motion has sought a commitment from the governments and other stakeholders to minimizing road fatalities and injuries, as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals set for 2020.
Likewise, the motion has demanded implementation of the National Road Safety Action Plan 2013-2020 and holding the authorities responsible for its implementation.
Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara will form a panel to study the public importance motions and motions drawing the government’s attention. The panel will select motions for discussion in the House. Such a committee is yet to be formed since the commencement of the winter session of parliament.
