Two wheeler drivers and pillion riders have to become aware about their responsibilities and wear headgear, said a senior officer of Kolkata police at a programme held on the eve of World Head Injury Awareness Day.
Arijit Sinha, the deputy police commissioner of traffic, Kolkata police, said most of the fatal cases in the road accidents involved bikers and 25 per cent of the deaths could be attributed to riding without helmets.
“If you go through last year’s data, out of 186, around 69 were two wheeler accidents. Out of the 69 accidents, 17 persons died just because they did not have protective headgear. That means around 25 per cent,” he said.
“Any form of death is unfortunate. But I personally think, nothing could be more unfortunate than a road traffic accident because it does not give the family time to prepare mentally.”
Sinha was speaking at a press conference held on the eve of the World Head Injury Awareness Day, organised by Park Neuroscience, Association of Neuroscientists of Eastern India and the traffic department, Kolkata police.
“There are instances of families where a boy was to leave for IIT. A day before departure he met with an accident and has been in coma over the past four years…..A person who is at the wheel, is an adult. They know very well the consequences of their actions. This problem (driving without headgear) cannot be resolved through policing until we act sensibly.”
He said the cops come under criticism for setting up naka checks and increasing fines on bikers on charges of riding without the protective headgear.
“You may have seen recently opinions have come on social media for increasing the fines. The aim was not to increase the tax revenue for the government,” he said.
Sinha said there was a need to feel the pain of the family members of the grievously injured and deceased. The traffic police would involve the family members to share their tale of hardship in the awareness campaign.
Sandip Chatterjee, head of the neurosurgery department of Park Clinic, Kolkata, said motorcyclists needed to wear helmets not just for the law, but because it was the only way to protect a motorcyclist’s head and brain.
“It is as much important that an ISO certified helmet which is recognised by Kolkata police should be used. This is the helmet, which is strong enough to give protection to the head and brain,” said Chatterjee.
Gautam Ganguly, the president of the association and the head of department at Bangur Institute of Neurology (BIN), urged people to spread awareness on wearing helmets because prevention was better than the cure.