Victims of hit-and-run road accidents in Nepal could receive government compensation under a draft Road Safety Bill prepared by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Under the proposal, a National Road Safety Council Fund would be set up to support people who cannot identify the vehicle involved or who are unable to get compensation through existing insurance or legal channels.
The council would work with the Nepal Insurance Authority to design insurance procedures so eligible victims receive payouts from the fund.
Vehicle owners and drivers would be held liable if their parked vehicles on the carriageway or in no-parking zones cause accidents. Compensation would be recovered from them under rules framed by the council.
The bill also states that individuals or organizations that leave goods or other obstacles on roads or footpaths, leading to crashes or property damage, must compensate affected people.
To run these measures, the draft law proposes a National Road Safety Council to coordinate agencies, set road safety policy, and monitor implementation across the country.
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