The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Helmet use can cut road deaths by 80 p.c.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Helmet use can cut road deaths by 80 p.c.

By Our Staff Reporter

The importance of helmet wearing is emphasised at an awareness campaign in the city on Friday. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI, OCT. 15. In the backdrop of the 400-odd fatal road accidents involving motorcyclists in the city, the Transport Department today launched a campaign to sensitise motorcycle riders to using helmets.

While the Government should consider making helmets mandatory, road discipline should be self-imposed, speakers at an awareness meeting emphasised. The first step towards enforcing discipline among road users was education, they stressed.

The meeting was attended by a group of young men and women who took their two-wheeler driving licences on Friday.

Although the accident rate had had come down over the past few years, the fatality figure still hovered around 425 a year, said M. Ravi, Deputy Commissioner of Traffic-North Chennai. About 80 per cent of the deaths were due to head injuries, which could have been avoided if the rider used a helmet.

At least 80 per cent of the motorcyclists dying in road accidents were in the age group of 18 to 35, he said. In Chennai, accidents involving motorcycles and scooters constituted about 70 per cent of the total number of road accidents, Mr. Ravi said. Speeding was a major cause of accidents in the city. To promote road safety, the Traffic Police were focussing on educating the road users. "They should realise their responsibility as a road user and as a citizen." The first step towards prevention was wearing a helmet, said K. Gireesh, consultant neurologist. Nearly 50 per cent of the patients coming to hospitals with head injuries were victims of road accidentd.

These injuries could have been avoided had the victims worn helmets. Such head injuries often led to acute subdural haematoma resulting in death in most cases, Dr. Gireesh added. He introduced two of his patients to the gathering who suffered from head injuries in road accidents. Sharing their experience, Abhilash and Palani said they could have avoided injuries if they had worn helmets.

Pledge

Participants were administered a pledge to abide by the road rules and spread the message to others.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Empty bottles make the most noise

Gilchrist and Jones bowl them over

This kolu is all about women's issues

Helmet use can cut road deaths by 80 p.c.

Fishermen rally in city

Producer Rathnam gets court summons

Around the City

In Chennai Today

Police have no key to unlocking this mystery