The Nepal Police, in collaboration with WHO Country Office for Nepal, recently conducted a training for traffic police personnel in Madhesh Province as part of its efforts to address the pressing issue of drink-driving and promote the use of helmets among motorcyclists in the province, which has witnessed a surge in road crashes.
A traffic police personnel conducting sobriety checks after receiving the training at Simara, Bara, Madesh Province. Photo credit: R.K.Mahato
Altogether 90 traffic police personnel from all eight districts of the province were trained on strengthening sobriety checks, use of alcohol breathalyzers, and enforcement of helmet use for both riders and pillion passengers. 48 traffic personnel from four districts (Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, and Sarlahi) participated in the training held on 19 March 2024 at Nijgadh, Bara, while 42 traffic personnel from other remaining districts participated in the training held on 20 March 2024 at Bardibas, Mahottari.
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Attendees, including the program chair, chief guest, special guests, and training facilitators, assemble for a group photograph following the training sessions. Photo credit: A. Shrestha
DIGP Yagya Binod Pokharel, Head of the Madhesh Province Police Office in Janakpur, along with S.P. Bhim Kiran Bogati, Chief of the Nepal Police Highway Safety and Traffic Management Office for Madhesh Province, graced the training session in Bara. Similarly, SSP Surendra Bahadur Gurung, from the Nepal Police Province office in Birgunj, Parsa, attended the opening session of the training held in Mahottari.
DSP Santosh Niraula from Nepal Police Headquarters and a team from WHO led by Dr Gampo Dorji, Team Lead for Noncommunicable Diseases Unit, delivered a comprehensive overview of road safety and strategies to combat drink-driving and highlighted the importance of double helmet use in their presentations. Assistant Sub Inspector Ramesh Tiwari shared his valuable insights gained from successfully implementing drink-driving countermeasures in Kathmandu and provided hands-on technical coaching on the correct use of breathalyzers during field operations.
Dr Gampo Dorji, Team Lead for NCD and Mental Health Unit, delivered an insightful technical session. Photo credit: WHO Nepal/N.Adhikari
The participants agreed to strengthen the implementation of drink-driving countermeasures throughout the province and pledged to document both positive and negative test results, recognizing the importance of data for future analysis and improvement. Furthermore, participants unanimously agreed to enforce compulsory helmet usage among riders, and to warn and remind those pillion riders not using helmets to use helmets.
One of the recommendations from the participants was to institute mandatory classes on road safety for traffic rule violators, similar to the program being run in Kathmandu Valley. Officials from the Nepal Police Headquarters agreed to pursue this recommendation. Furthermore, participants discussed the record-keeping form to ensure proper documentation of their work and provided feedback on the forms which will be incorporated by the Nepal Police.
Participants sharing their experiences from the field on enforcing drink-driving countermeasures and helmet use. Photo credit: K.P.Yadav
Dr Gampo Dorji, Team Lead of the Noncommunicable Diseases Unit, WHO Nepal, emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of drink-driving countermeasures to reduce accidents and likened helmets to vaccines for the head.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Ramesh Tiwari leading the technical session on the proper use of breathalyzers in field operations. Photo credit: K.P.Yadav
At the end of the training programme, stakeholders agreed to convene again in June to monitor the progress and effectiveness of these initiatives, in a display of the collective commitment towards enhancing road safety in Madhesh Province. Through collaboration and dedication, Nepal Police and stakeholders aim to create safer roads and reduce road traffic incidents in the region.
Handover of 30 sets of breathalyzers by Nepal Police to Madhesh Police, Nepal, to expand sobriety checks in the province.
Prior to the trainings, WHO Nepal had provided 30 sets of breathalyzers to the Nepal Police which were handed over to the Madhesh Police on 3 March 2024 to expand sobriety checks in the province.