NASA Nepal & WIMA Nepal Initiate Safety Riding Initiative

Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the global governing/sanctioning body of motorcycle racing, in association with NASA Nepal (Nepal Automobiles Association – NASA Nepal) and WIMA Nepal, has initiated ‘Safety Riding Initiative’ campaign in the capital.The campaign was launched by Govinda Bhattarai, Member of National Sports Council and President of Mountain Sports Federation Nepal, and Dasharath Risal, President of NASA Nepal during a special program at NASA Nepal's office in Satdobato, Lalitpur.In the program, Sunita Deshar, Coordinator of WIMA Nepal, gave a presentation on motorcycle riding terminology and tools, and the importance of safe riding. Similarly,  Anil Baral, Vice President of NASA Nepal, highlighted the association between NASA Nepal and WIMA Nepal. Also, Pramod Shrestha 'Goofy', a member of the campaign, and Soni Tandukar, Treasurer of WIMA Nepal informed the participating riders about the campaign.The program was also attended by Subash Shrestha and Sampan Shrestha - members of the National Sports Council, Everest climber and rider Kalpana Manager, NASA Nepal's working committee member Diprash Shakya.  The participating riders and officials were also provided an experimental exercise in safety riding.Under this campaign, training will be provided to 1000 women motorcycle/scooter riders across the country. Riders will receive information on traffic rules and regulations, mechanical and technical, and motorcycle safety and sustainability. The program will be conducted in various cities of Nepal including Jhapa, Dharan, Nijgadh, Hetauda, ​​Tulsipur, Kawasoti, Narayangarh, Pokhara, Surkhet, Dhangadhi, and Kathmandu.The Safety Riding Initiative will be concluded through the International Motorcycling Conference to be held in Kathmandu in the last week of September this year. Under this nationwide campaign, basic information about the importance and benefits of motorcycles, women empowerment through motorcycles, motorcycling sports, two-wheel touring, and e-bikes will also be provided.The campaign will be conducted by a special team of NASA Nepal under the Beyond Sports system. The special team includes Govinda Bhattarai, Santosh Neupane, Prakash Kapuri, Binod Tandukar, Pramod Shrestha 'Goofy', Sunita Deshar, Rabi Thapa, and Vipin Gautam.According to the Department of Transport Management Nepal, more than 4 million vehicles are currently registered in Nepal, of which 80 percent are two-wheelers The number of two-wheelers in road accidents is increasing every day. In view of the increasing number of female riders in recent days, the possibility of them getting into an accident seems high. Hence, this is the reason behind this initiative, says NASA Nepal.Globally, the United Nations is leading the Road Safety Decade (2020-2030). Under this, an action plan has been made public to reduce the number of deaths due to road accidents by half in 10 years. Various member states have formulated strategies accordingly. The Government of Nepal has also brought the proposal of Road Safety Action Plan 2020-30 in the public debate. But it has not been approved and implemented. However, the Department of Quality and Measurement Nepal has set the national quality standards for helmets, after extensive lobbying by NASA Nepal.Globally, organizations including WHO, FIA and FIM and Global Alliance are conducting campaigns related to motorcycling safety. For a long time now, dozens of organizations in Nepal have been running various campaigns through a network called National Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Mobility-Nepal.