Making pedestrians safer
The concept of the zebra crossing is generally credited to British Member of Parliament James Callaghan, who later became Prime Minister. The first official zebra crossing was introduced in Slough, United Kingdom, on 31 Oct 1951. Following this, the British government adopted the design for pedestrian crossings nationwide.
A safe walking environment not only ensures protection for pedestrians but also promotes a sense of comfort and friendliness. It encourages social and physical activities such as walking, running, and cycling. Pedestrian crossings are marked by different textures, surfaces, or colors to make them easily visible to both drivers and pedestrians. Roads also carry various signs for safety, including speed limits, school zones, hospital areas, no horn zones, humps, turns, and other necessary traffic control devices. Additionally, traffic FM radios regularly announce safety tips and traffic updates.
Zebra crossings are pedestrian facilities used worldwide, including in Nepal. They are designated as safe zones for pedestrians to cross and help alert drivers to reduce their speed. The horizontal line before the zebra crossing marks where vehicles must stop and wait until pedestrians have fully crossed. However, studies suggest that many pedestrian casualties occur at unsignalized zebra crossings.
In my observation, traffic police often focus more on managing vehicles than on protecting pedestrians. Even in major traffic junctions, pedestrians are frequently overlooked. Some traffic lights are non-functional, forcing people to cross without signals. Occasionally, volunteers or police are seen helping pedestrians cross, but this is not consistent. Many pedestrians, especially those new to the city, are unfamiliar with zebra crossings or the meanings of green, yellow, and red lights. Although schools and awareness programs may teach road safety, these lessons are often not practiced.
Road safety is further compromised by noisy motorcyclists and reckless drivers who merge onto main roads without slowing down, forcing others to brake suddenly. While the speed limit in city areas ranges from 25 to 50 km/h, many drivers treat public roads like racetracks. It’s common to see young riders, especially those with a passenger behind, recklessly weaving across lanes. The roar of their modified exhausts is not only disturbing but terrifying.
Stray dogs also pose a serious risk, often chasing motorcyclists and cyclists, leading to accidents. Municipalities have shown little concern for managing stray animals. Public buses and microbuses routinely stop in the middle of the road instead of designated stops, and drivers aggressively overtake using the wrong lanes to pick up more passengers. Ambulances struggle to navigate traffic during emergencies, with other drivers showing little urgency to give way.
While drivers are expected to pass a licensing test, their on-road behavior often shows a lack of responsibility. Though violators are fined and required to attend traffic awareness classes, these measures don’t seem to be effectively implemented. Even educated drivers, including those in private vehicles, government cars, diplomatic vehicles with blue CD plates, and INGOs, frequently ignore basic rules—such as stopping for pedestrians at zebra crossings.
Drivers often follow the rules only when traffic police are visibly present. Otherwise, chaos prevails. Honking is constant, even in sensitive zones like schools and hospitals. Parents, senior citizens, and people with disabilities are left terrified while trying to cross. Some pedestrians move slowly, either out of fear or carelessness, even when physically capable. Others cross outside designated zones, further increasing risks. Ironically, in Nepal, it’s often the pedestrian who must wait for vehicles to pass before daring to cross the zebra.
Today, many pedestrians and drivers are distracted by phones, smoking, eating, or listening to music while crossing or driving, putting themselves and others in danger.
According to Nepal Police Headquarters, in fiscal year 2024/25, there were 28,692 road accidents and 2,377 fatalities nationwide. Kathmandu Valley alone reported 7,164 accidents and 186 deaths. Additionally, 216 road incidents involved four-footed animals, with 172 dying and 44 injured.
Pedestrian crossings should be installed in areas with high foot traffic such as schools, hospitals, offices, markets, and city centers. They should be equipped with pedestrian signals, audible beeping for the visually impaired, and clear lighting. Some pedestrians have multiple disabilities, and drivers must be patient and compassionate. At times, bending the rules for humane reasons is justified.
This is not to say nothing has been done. Traffic police are trying their best. However, unsignalized crossings remain prone to crashes, and pedestrian behavior significantly influences outcomes. Drivers must learn to anticipate how pedestrians behave when crossing.
I’ve seen parents carrying newborns and up to five children on a motorbike, without helmets. This is dangerous and should be strictly prohibited. Like in Western countries, children should not sit in the front seat of a car; they should have proper child seats and seat belts.
I drive both a scooter and a bicycle, depending on the need. I love cycling to the market or office, but I’ve stopped recently because cycling in Kathmandu feels unsafe. There’s no dedicated bike lane, and other drivers behave as though cyclists don’t belong on the road.
Can education alone make pedestrians safer? In Nepal, that’s an open question. The problem lies in the mindset. Drivers often forget that they, too, are pedestrians when they’re not behind the wheel. Many follow rules abroad but revert to chaos once back in Nepal. Why?
Traffic education and awareness programs seem ineffective. What's missing is consciousness, empathy, and accountability. Traffic police cannot be stationed at every zebra crossing. Drivers must be self-aware, patient, and compassionate, not just rule-followers, but responsible road users. Let’s strive for compassion and care on the road. That’s the only way a society becomes truly civilized.
Dalit-friendly workplace: A call for change
Being raised in a society that discriminates based on caste is like having a continual cloud of uncertainty, anxiety and insecurity. This cloud represents a reality that affects every part of the life of individuals who belong to the untouchable castes, not just a metaphor. The caste system in which Dalits are reared determines their value and potential long before they have the opportunity to establish their own identities, which contributes directly to the inferiority complex that develops among Dalits.
A lifetime of covert and overt reminders of one’s ‘place’ in the social hierarchy fosters the development of this inferiority complex. Dalits are painfully made aware from an early age that they are ‘different’ and that everyone around them view them as inferior because of their caste. Whether it is through the condescending attitudes of teachers, the dismissive behavior of neighbors, or the whispered insults of classmates, the message is clear: Dalit are not equal, and they never will be.
The psyche is deeply scarred by these experiences. Dalits start to absorb the idea that they are essentially less valuable than other people and that, as a result of their caste identity, they should not be given the same opportunities and respect. Dalit’s self-fulfilling prophecy affects their relationships, confidence and capacity for success in life. A voice that murmurs, ‘You don’t really deserve this,’ lingers in the background of a Dalit’s mind even after they accomplish something notable. Colleagues who don’t value them often serve to confirm this doubt.
I recall a particular incident from my time working as a Deputy Team Leader for a consultancy firm. Most of the reports in that office were drafted by me, serving as the foundation for my colleagues’ work and ultimately receiving approval. Despite my central role in the team, I encountered a team leader and member from the management team who consistently treated me with disrespect. This wasn’t just a clash of personalities; it was a deep-seated issue that triggered my long-standing feelings of inferiority. Instead of engaging in constructive dialogue, I found myself on the defensive, constantly trying to prove my worth in the face of his dismissive attitude. This experience not only disrupted my work but also made me leave the office forever.
This sense of isolation is compounded by the lack of understanding or empathy from colleagues. When Dalits express anger or frustration, it is often met with confusion or defensiveness, rather than a genuine attempt to understand where they are coming from. Colleagues may see this anger as irrational or unjustified, not realizing that it stems from a lifetime of dealing with the subtle and not-so-subtle indignities of caste discrimination.
Dalits frequently experience a sense of alienation and a lack of belonging in jobs where the majority caste is higher. They are distinguished by their caste identities, and it is far too simple to blame any unfavorable encounters on these underlying distinctions. It feels less like a professional dispute and more like an attack on their identity when someone challenges or disagrees with their thoughts; they are being rejected not for the quality of their arguments but rather for the perceived inferiority of their caste.
There is a praiseworthy attempt in many contemporary organizations to develop gender-friendly cultures where workers of all genders are treated with decency and respect. In many workplaces, policies including the promotion of gender equality, gender sensitivity training, and zero tolerance for gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and sexual harassment have become the norm. These initiatives aim to foster an environment at work where everyone, regardless of gender, feels safe, respected and appreciated in addition to following the law.
Caste should be subjected to the same degree of sensitivity and intolerance. It ought to be immoral to treat someone differently based on their caste, just as it is wrong to treat someone unfairly based on their gender. In order to guarantee that no one feels less than or uncomfortable due to their caste identification, offices have to be welcoming to Dalits.
To achieve this, workplaces must implement policies and practices that actively promote caste sensitivity. All staff members should get training on the effects of caste discrimination, the value of inclusivity and the necessity of treating everyone with respect. Team leaders and managers need to be especially aware of how caste dynamics might manifest in the workplace and try to foster a culture where all workers, regardless of caste, feel respected, safe, and supported.
Even after a careful search, it can be challenging to locate even one Dalit within a large organization! This is a result of their systematic exclusion rather than a lack of qualifications or ability on the part of Dalits. Understanding and being able to communicate with Dalits is crucial. It is even forbidden for a Dalit to pose inquiries at the office. Dalits are proven wrong even when they are correct. This concerns not just justice, but also fundamental human dignity.
Dalits are also human beings! Putting oneself in their shoes will help you understand their challenges. Reminding a Dalit of their ‘place’ each time serves to perpetuate an oppressive system that has no place in a fair and just society.
Recognizing Dalits’ humanity and fostering an environment where they can flourish are more important goals of developing a Dalit-friendly workplace than merely following rules or checking boxes. It’s about making sure that no one’s caste identification causes them to feel inferior or unfit. We won't be able to start tearing down the profoundly embedded caste-based discrimination that still exists in our culture until workplaces are genuinely inclusive, considerate, and encouraging. Although achieving equality will not be simple, we must travel this route together.
The author is a sociologist
