The Hindu : Karnataka News : Head or hairstyle? It's your choice

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Head or hairstyle? It's your choice

Staff Reporter

Statistics say number of deaths in road accidents is second only to AIDS

BANGALORE: Even as the debate rages on over the helmet rule for two-wheeler riders, the statistics available on accidents tilt the balance in favour of the rule. Statistics confirm that the number of people who die from injuries in road accidents is second only to those who die of AIDS.

In 2003, 194 people were killed and 2,529 injured in road accidents in the city while last year, 198 died and 1,983 were injured. This year till date, 32 persons have lost their lives to accidents and 425 injured. Over 90 per cent of the two-wheeler riders involved in these accidents were not wearing helmets.

Here's what doctors say about the head injury victims: "Just because you are only injured doesn't mean that you are better off. The effects of brain damage are far more severe than death itself. People who suffer from brain damage end up with paralysis, memory loss, loss of sight, hearing and speech, concussions and many more."

Dr. Nayak, a neurologist from HOSMAT hospital, says: "People assume that since the traffic in the city is slow-moving, the need to wear helmets is not all that important. But that is false. Injuries caused by slow-moving vehicles is just as severe as those caused by fast-moving vehicles. In both cases patients are known to suffer from deep coma and brain damage."

"Helmets do not prevent accidents they only reduce the severity of it", says another doctor, N.K. Venkataramana, who strongly believes that the Government should introduce a new law, which will make it mandatory for people who sell motorcycle to also give two helmets along with it. The people should be careful about the choice of helmet to buy as the wrong ones can leave a person with severe head and facial injuries. "People should always buy helmets which completely cover their head and face", he said.

Campaign

Many doctors and welfare associations are coming up with various campaigns to spread awareness about the importance of wearing a helmet in and around the city. Hosmat Institute of Neurosurgery (HINS) conducts programmes on the benefits of wearing helmets for the employees of the Ministry of Defence, Infosys, Astra Zeneca, and others as most of the accident victims who come to Hosmat are from call centres. "I want the people who have survived these accidents to come out and tell their story to the general public," says Dr. Arun Nayak.

About apprehensions that helmets cause dandruff and allergy, the doctors say all these have been proved wrong by science. Nobody can force a person to wear a helmet because of the law. People may just wear a helmet in front of the policemen and remove it later.

As Dr. Venkataramana puts it, people must realise that the only reason for a person to wear a helmet should be his or her safety and nothing else.

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

Karnataka