Helmets reduce road fatalities

Tirupati: People are losing lives during road mishaps despite sensitizing them on compulsory usage of helmets. In a latest incident, M Venkateswarlu of Gajula Mandyam near Renigunta was killed on Tuesday night when the District Joint Collector’s car hit him. The accident took place near Thimminaidu Palyam where he was currently residing. The Joint Collector’s car hit his two-wheeler while he was crossing the road.

Highlights:

• 90 per cent die of head injuries during road mishaps, says RTO G Vivenkananda Reddy
• In 2015, number of accident deaths were 249 in the district and it was 664 in 2016

He fell on the road and his head hit the footpath which led to severe injury. Joint Collector PS Girisha called 108 ambulance service and sent Venkateswarlu to Ruia Hospital where the doctors declared him dead. The Joint Collector informed about the accident to the District Collector. The JC assured all help to the bereaved family. This was second road accident in which JC’s car was involved. In July this year, a school student was killed in Puttur when JC’s car hit his bicycle. Girisha, however, said that his driver will be replaced. Meanwhile, police registered a case against driver.

Though, the accident was unfortunate, it should be noted that he was killed with head injury only. Had he worn a helmet he could have survived. The efforts of the Police department to make the use of helmets mandatory were not yielding any results.

The number of accidents is increasing year after year. In Tirupati Police district, 584 accidents occurred in 2015 while it has gone up to 637 during the next year. The number of deaths were 249 in 2015 and 271 in the next year. In the entire district, 1,311 accidents were recorded in 2016 in which 664 were killed.

As far as the two-wheeler accidents are concerned, from January to August 2017, 88 accidents occurred in Tirupati Urban police limits in which 48 have lost their lives while 61 got injured. The two-wheeler accidents account for 35 per cent across the state and it may be even more in urban areas.

Though statistics show the intensity of the problem, people are not realising it. Regional Transport Officer (RTO) G Vivenkananda Reddy told The Hans India that more than 90 per cent accidents deaths were due to head injuries only. When majority of the two-wheeler riders were not using helmets, it becomes rather difficult to impose the law.

He stressed on the need for creating awareness on wearing helmets while driving. A senior citizen said he was scared of walking on the roads as youngsters are driving vehicles at higher speeds.

“What will happen to us when they hit at that speed and what about them if they met with accident? Will their parents never tell them?”, he asked. Another person wearing a helmet said, it was good idea of imposing a rule that petrol can be filled for only those who wear helmet. But, who is following this, he
remarked.

By V Pradeep Kumar