Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A Plea From Me to All My Motorcycle Riding Friends of Every Age - September 11, 2013




To all my motorcycle riding friends....and I have so many in India.  I am making a 
plea that you always wear your helmet and have the chin strap FASTENED.  
Otherwise, the helmet is useless and merely a decoration.  It will fly in an 
accident and your brain will be left on the pavement.  Every passenger on your 
bike should always wear a properly fastened helmet - and that goes for the 
children.  In the U. S. - or California, at least, even children on their bicycles are 
supposed to wear their helmets.  

Don't think, "because I'm not going far from my house", that you don't need a 
helmet.  An accident can occur anywhere, at anytime.  India's potholes can be
lethal and the number of vehicles on the road, in cities such as Mumbai, is
phenomenal.

The United States Center for Disease Control states:  "riders’—and their 
passengers’—can protect themselves by wearing helmets. Helmets are 
estimated to prevent 37 percent of crash deaths among motorcycle riders 
and 41 percent of crash deaths for motorcycle passengers."




The CDC also have several bulletins and statistics about motorcycle safety.
Please read their "Motorcycle Safety Guide" which can be found at:
help save your life and that of a loved one.

While much of the articles stastitics pertain to the U. S., there is no doubt, in my
mind that India, with the poorer quality of most of its roads and its tremendous
population, many of them ( entire families, even ) on a motorcycle are at even
greater risk.

From the CDC:  

"Age: Young people are not the only ones dying in motorcycle crashes. In 2010, 
more than half the people killed in motorcycle crashes were 40 or older, up 
from 25% in 1995.1,2

Sex: While only 10% off riders killed in motorcycle crashes in 2010 were women, almost all passengers (89%) killed in motorcycle crashes were women.2
Location: More people are killed in motorcycle crashes on rural roads now than 20 years  ago.  Roughly half of all crashes take place on rural roads.9  Forty-one percent of motorcycle operators and 50% of motorcycle passengers who died in 2012 were not wearing a helmet.2"        
"Wearing helmets that meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) standard is the single most  effective means of reducing the number of people who get injured or die from motorcyle crashes.5"  

I am not sure if someone oversees the laws regarding helmet  construction in India but is so necessary!

"Helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69%.3,26"

"Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of motorcycle crash death.25  Even when not fatal, these debilitating head injuries can mean a lifetime of costly rehabilitation and severe emotional trauma for family and friends. "

"Full-face helmets offer the most protection, protecting the eyes and face with a face shield and providing protection to the chin."

The World Health Organnization has an exceptional article, "Why Are Helmets 
Needed?", which addresses the issues in low and middle income countries.  It is 
worth reading every single word.  Skip one t.v. show tonight and please read it.

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241562994_chap1_eng.pdf

PLEASE, PLEASE, family and friends, I implore you to save a life by wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet ANYTIME you are riding your motorcycles.  I want you alive and safe to enjoy the world in which we live!!!

http://www.cdc.gov/Motorvehiclesafety/mc/guide/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/mc/guide/prevention.html

http://www.cdc.gov/features/motorcyclesafety/

http://www.examiner.com/article/deadly-motorcycle-accident-statistics

10 comments:

  1. I am with you on this. Helmet is a must, but people hardly realize.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've often thought of having my friend, who was a forensic pathologist for about 50 years, to give me a portfolio of his morgue shots of motorcycle accident fatalities. Those pictures are enough to really put the fear of God in you!

      Delete
  2. Hope someone listens!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sadly, people don't listen. They are like ostriches with their head in the sand when it comes to this kind of thing. Or, they say. I'm just going a short distance from home. I personally hate motorcycles but here, being such a poor country, they are the most affordable kind of transportation other than a bicycle.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous8:49 AM

    Vengo navegando online más de 2 horas hoy y no había encontrado ningún artículo interesante como el tuyo.
    Personalmente opino que, si todos los propietarios de sitios web y blogueros
    escribieran un buen contenido como éste, internet
    sería mucho más útil.
    Excepcionalmente bien escrito!

    My web page; inseminacion In vitro

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed this article. I just hope some people read it and will start using motorcycle helmets.

      Delete
  4. It makes no sense to me that here in Pennsylvania I am required to wear a seatbelt while in a car but a person on a motorcycle is not required to wear a helmet. How does that make any sense at all?

    That image should at least make some people think twice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm surprised Pennsylvania doesn't have a helmet law. California does, as do many other states. It's probably just a matter of time but it's sad that lives will be lost in the meantime.

      Delete
  5. Here , Here, thank you for doing your bit to make the world a safer place.
    Wrenx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Wren, I do hope that, maybe, my constantly pushing for the use of motorcycle helmets will save at least one person.

      Delete