Assessing Road Safety Risks through Road Safety Audit: A Case Study of Gwarko-Lakuri Bhanjyang, Nepal

https://doi.org/10.46610/JoTS.2025.v010i03.004

Abstract

Road safety is a growing concern globally, particularly in developing countries like Nepal, where rapid urbanisation and increasing vehicular traffic have led to a rise in road crashes. This study conducts a road safety audit (RSA) for a 14.3 km stretch from Gwarko to Lakuri Bhanjyang covering both plain and hilly terrain. The data were collected using a GPS-based SW Maps mobile application, and ArcGIS was employed for mapping and analysing the recorded road safety features along the study route, along with conducting a spot speed study in each section. The study revealed significant deficiencies, including inadequate traffic signs, faded zebra crossings, a lack of speed calming measures, and inadequate protection at hazardous drop-off locations. The recommendations include 69 regulatory, warning, and informative traffic signs, construction of crash barriers at 17 hazardous drop locations, improving 83.99% of the footpath with tactile, repainting 36 zebra crossings, covering 4.5km of open drain, and restriction of speed limit to 30 km/h in urban areas near high pedestrian activity zones. These targeted interventions can enhance road user safety, reduce crash risks, and improve overall traffic management. The findings of the study highlight the importance of road safety audits for ensuring safer road networks in hilly-urban areas.