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Helmets , Bikes and Cops

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Shubham, a 17 year old student of Modern School and son of our colleague, died in a two wheelr accident last week, sending shock waves, sorrow and remorse in our hearts yet again.
We all know that two-wheelers are the backbone of the middle class especially of its youth. With 45 lac new two wheelers hitting Indian roads every year and 12000 new registrations every day accidents are bound to rise. The number of precious young lives being lost is however disproportionaly high with 115,000 deaths every year in Delhi alone.
The recurring and haunting theme that runs through all these tragedies is that they were not wearing helmets while riding their two wheelers.
Why then do riders not wear helmets? Road research instistute cite these as the common excuses:
1.         “I am a good driver. It cant happen to me”
2.         “There are no cops on this route at this time”
3.          “I am going a very short distance”
4.          “Where do I keep it?”
5.          “It is so hot and uncomfortable”
6.          “Helmets are a useless expenditure”
7.          “I belive in destiny. Helmet can’t change that”
That helmets protect lives in case of two wheeler accidents has been proven beyound doubt. Several studies have shown that wearing a helmet reduces the fatality rate (chances of dying) from accidents by as much as 50-80%. Injury to the head and the brain is the commonest cause of death  which the helmet cushions and protects.
History too supports the use of helmets. When helmet legislation was relaxed in UK in 1979, there was a significant spurt in deaths from two wheeler accidents, necessitating a quick re-implementation. On the other hand strict enforcement in California resulted in saving of $ 35 miilion from hospital costs.
Cops indeed have a vital role to play. Enforcing helmet legislation is of proven value in reducing deaths. Paradoxically, the prime reason why young Indian riders wear helmets, when they do, is to escape being caught by cops; hence they often buy cheap substandard helmets, wear them selectively at crossings where cops are spotted, and take them off soon after having outsmarted them.
Parents need to be a lot stricter with their children too. If caught by the cops for defaulting, it does not help to support their kids and fight with the cops. It might bring their children to harm tomorrow.
Through HOPE Initiative (www.hope.org.in) we have been striving for the last 5 years to stress the benefit of wearing helmets, among students. School authorities have been trying their best too. And yet a road traffic accident continues to occur every 7 minutes in India, and we continue to loose young and promising lives. Parents, employers, academic administration and the traffic police need to join hands to prevent this wasteful and tragic loss of young lives.
As published in HT City (Hindustan Times) dated 18 july ,2010.
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