Will stiffer fines really fix Nepal’s traffic culture?

While stricter rules are necessary to save lives, they must be equitable and align with the nation’s reality.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has recently introduced a draft bill that seeks to revamp road safety in Nepal through a regime of significantly escalated traffic fines. While the intention to curb the nation’s alarming rate of road fatalities—currently standing at 28 deaths per 100,000 people—is noble, the proposed penalties have sparked a national debate. With fines ranging from Rs500 for jaywalking to a staggering Rs100,000 for unauthorised vehicle modifications, the legislation represents a move from nominal deterrents to what some experts describe as prohibitive, and perhaps unrealistic, financial burdens.