Road Safety Audit of Provincial Roads in Karnali Province, Nepal: A GIS-based Assessment of Baluwasangrahi-Kupinde-Khalanga and Devsthal-Chaurjahari-Dolpa Road

https://doi.org/10.46610/JoTS.2026.v011i01.003

Abstract

Road traffic crashes kill over 1.19 million people each year around the world. They are the top cause of death for people aged 5–29. Countries like Nepal, which fall under low- and middle-income categories, are part of a group that accounts for about 92% of global road traffic deaths, despite having only around 60% of the world’s vehicles. In Nepal, rural roads often lack safety features like barriers and signs, which adds to the problem, especially in tough areas like Karnali Province. Karnali has many road safety issues because of fast-growing roads and no regular safety checks at the provincial level. This study does Road Safety Audits on two roads: the 11 km Baluwasangrahi-Kupinde Khalanga section and the 13 km Devsthal-Kainkada-Chaurajahari-Dolpa section. The paper used GPS dashcams to record videos, ArcGIS to map risks and on-site visits to find main problems—narrow roads, deep unprotected sides, rockfall spots, sharp turns, and no school zone signs. About 70% of the road parts are at high or extreme risk. Simple steps like adding zebra crossings, gabions, road markings and signs (B11 for bends, B23 for schools) can reduce crash risks by 30-40%, following global standards. This fits with SDG 3.6 and 9.1, and Nepal's NRSAP (2021-2030). It gives a GIS-based way to improve safety on provincial roads.