KOZHIKODE: The majority of accidents in the city are caused by the bikers and private buses through rash and ruthless driving. This year, 167 persons have lost their lives in road accidents so far, out of whom 94 were two-wheeler riders, 49 pedestrians and 23 others, according to the traffic police. Among the bike accident victims, serious head injuries due to the absence of helmet resulted in the deaths. In last three months , 27 persons were killed in a total of 22 accidents and 248 persons were injured.
Assistant commissioner (traffic, south) M.C. Devasia told DC that many bikers keep the helmets hanging on handlebars and rush off when there is police checking. "Fearing accidents during a chase, the police either leave them or note down the numbers and track the owners later," he said. The majority of bike accident victims die due to lack of helmets, he said. Though the traffic policehas conducted awareness programmes, they are yet to produce results. Road safety authority member Dr P.P. Venugopal opined that helmet should be made mandatory for pillion riders also. In cities like Jaipur, Delhi and Bengaluru , the pillion riders wear helmet.
"Rather than the imposition of law, the safety aspect is more important," he said and added that in 80 percent of accidents, the victims were youngsters. "Those not wearing helmet risk death or permanent disability much more than those who wear helmet, he said. "Some don't chin-strap the helmet which is also dangerous," he pointed out. "The parents who gift ultra-modern bikes to underage children are courting disaster because the adolescents are careless about traffic rules and cause accidents," he said.
