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SHRINIDHI HANDE writes from Madras: This report in Praja Vani states that the number of deaths and injuries of two-wheeler riders hasn’t come down post the enforcement of the compulsory helmet rule.
It appears to suggest that using helmets, on the other hand, increases the number of casualties and injuries.
The great helmet debate can be never ending, but why blame helmets when people never use them scientifically?
Most of us put on the helmet—or carry it on the mirror of our bikes, or have the pillion hold it for us—for fear of the police fining us.
How many of us buy the right brand of helmet with the right fit? How many of us clip the strap? How many of us clip it tightly? Most of us leave the strap hanging, both because it saves time and the police won’t fine us for not doing so. These could be the reasons why the death count hasn’t come down despite the helmet rule being in force.
Helmets will be effective only when we wear them scientifically. During a crash, if it has to absorb the impact and protect our skull, it is essential that helmet is firmly held against our head by tightening the strap to the right tension.
If we leave the strap unbuckled leaving the helmet free to move around, it will be able to absorb only a fraction of the impact (during a collision/crash) and pass on the rest to the head.
That defeats the very purpose of a helmet. How can a life jacket keep you afloat in water if you don’t tie it properly around you? Helmet also functions somewhat similar. Besides advocating usage of helmet, we need to educate people to use it properly (buckle the strap tightly) for increased effectiveness.
churumuri 
Sir please comment about quality of helmets that are made & sold.
Is proper QC system in place.
In our country if you pay the authorities you can make a dead man alive on papers though.
This article is lop sided. There is no mention about number of vehicles added every year. number of vehicles are incresing exponetially so will accidents.
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This is flawed logic for it does not consider the related facts. For example the number of vehicles has increased. More over, the two wheel riders are a law unto themselves. Then as rightly pointed out the quality of the helmets is suspect. It is like the bullet proof jacket which our police wear and we have seen how it has not been useful in the Mumbai attack. In addition to helmet there are other traffic enforecement measures that has to be taken into consideration like seggregation of traffic etc. it is a tough challenge. For example accordidgn to survey on an average there are 15 types of vehicles that ply on our roads with different static and dynamic characteristics and it is unique and only Pakistan, Bangla Desh and Sri Lanka share this. In fact but for helmets more would have died
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It is quite unfortunate and surprising that nobody (decision makers, courts, doctors who attribute the reasons etc.) thinks about the root cause of accidents. These are 1. simply due to not obeying the traffic rules, 2. enormous increase of vehicle population, 3. bad roads. If remedial measures are taken for these causes, number of accidents will automatically reduce and thus deaths and injuries. This logic “wearing helmets save your lives is absurd. In a city like Chennai, where the heat is unbearable, people are forced to wear helmets and drive! Imagine the plight of the riders. Many of them would die simply due to heat exhaustion. Another point. This law or rules are made by all those people who travel by cars (mostly government vehicles) and never have to wear a helmet and drivee in this traffic and on these horrible roads.
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Kitty and Bapu, first, learn to understand the context of the article before jumping all over it. Then perhaps you will appreciate the it and the truth that it permeates.
The author’s points may not be reflected in any statistical study, yet, they provoke thoughts of a progressive nature. You both make good points in your comments about the quality of helmets and increasing traffic.
These points should come across as welcome additions in upgrading the article; alas they reflect a typical attitude that is common to most Indians, which is looking for a coffin when smelling roses.
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hmmm….no offense but i think but both of u missed the point, the point being helmets would work if we wear them correctly(“scientifically”)! This is true, isn’t it? And why are you trying to justify the number of accidents by citing the increase in the number of vehicles? Isn’t what the author has mentioned true, about a LOT of people not wearing helmets properly/carrying one with the pillion et.al.? Isn’t it true?
I admit that ur point about QC of helmets/increase in vehicles is a factor. But to say this, we need to ensure that people follow the rule of the helmet “PROPERLY”, i.e. by wearing helmets in the correct way!
If we do look at QC control, we all know that QC is done using tests that are designed scientifically which also means that during QC it is assumed that the user,the rider of the helmet in this case, will wear the helmet correctly. When ppl do not wear the article correctly, how can you question its Quality? This is analogous to the following:
If u have insurance for ur bike/car, it will cover accidents! But if u go damage it urself and go to the insurance company claiming the material is faulty, they won’t bear your charges.The insurance company requires you to use ur car/bike properly/as advised by traffic rules/manufacturer of the vehicle, doesn’t it?
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@ Prjawaleshwarudu
I agree with you. People dont wear helmets properly.
@ shrinidhi hande traffic and travel specialist of churumuri,
people must wear helmets while they ride bikes. Somebody has rightly pointed fingers at the quality of helmets. quality should be checked strictly. Even the pillion rider must wear helmets for his / her safety.
More than anything else. DRIVE SLOWLY. I have seen some guys, the moment they see good looking girls, they increase their bike speed.
kapichestegalu.
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Whether someone wears the helmet properly or not , but any small amount of protection to the head may sometimes save life. Just because people dont follow rules it doesn’t mean that the rule should be taken out. It is similar to paying tax, everyone cheats on it so whats the use in collecting it.
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“the moment they see good looking girls, they increase their bike speed”..
I thought it would’ve made more sense to decrease their speed??!! Foolish guys..
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Helmets are surely life savers,when they are used properly.We should not be overconfident about our driving skills.Accident may happen to any one at any time. We should always be alert when we are driving.We should not destract our mind towards the good looking girls,walking on the roads.
We should kill our attitude towards SPEED,before it kills us.
Let us always remember that our loved ones are waiting for us in the house for our SAFE return.
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there is no doubt that wearing helmet saves life. dont propagate not wearing it.
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Many of our 2 wheeler riders drive their vehicles on foot paths with all obstacles in heavy traffic roads. In those conditions, you can not rule out the accidents despite wearing helmet, offcourse, mobile earphone will be kept inside the helmet so as to answer teh calls as well as to listen to FM channels. How can they concentrate on driving while doin this.
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@ Vinay
so you do that. go slowly like a tortoise. :)
Those guys like to impress people with ” speed” (macho)
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