Gattina's Saturday Photo Hunting - Vehicles - October 19, 2013

45 Days Left in India!

Gattina chose "vehicles" as her Saturday Photo Hunting topic for today. 
India has all sorts of "interesting" vehicles, some of the four legged
variety so I have, also, enclosed photos of those.

In Jaipur, tourists enjoy riding camels and elephants, although both 

creatures are also work animals, pulling carts, and heavy loads, in addition

to giving visitors an "Indian" experience at transportation.

Of course, auto rickshaws are everywhere, weaving in and out of traffic and

sounding their horns.

These are the Mumbai variety.  Those in Jaipur are often larger and more 

colorful.

The main vehicle for transportation is the motorcycle.  Jaipur, at least, has a

helmet law which seems to be followed much better than in Mumbai.  Often,

however, second passengers and children are not helmeted.   There are quite a

few cars on the road as well but you don't often see vans or large SUVs such 

as we have in the U. S.

Some people still get around via bicycle rickshaws, quite a lot of work,

especially if the poor fellows are transporting someone my size.

I always get a kick out of seeing these little trucks on the road.  Of course,

there are regular semis transporting goods from one part of India to another,

some of them very colorful.

It is amazing that the ladies of India can ride pinion ( side saddle ), in their

long, flowing colorful saris, especially since many of the roads are in disrepair 

and potholes are plentiful.

India's trains are often filled to overflowing with passengers bulging out the 

doors.  While, of course, there are luxury trains like the Orient Express but 

those that transport regular passengers are far from deluxe.

India's vehicles and modes of transportation are as diverse as the country

itself.  With over 1.2 billion people, you can imagine the traffic jams in major

cities!

I am participating in Gattina's

Saturday Photo Hunting

Join us!!

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:

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

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

Thusday Challenge: Transportation - Motorcycles in India - April 25, 2013

Motorcycles have always frightened me.  As a nurse, I've seen far too many patients

with serious injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents.  There is just so little

protection for riders, even when they are clad in leather jackets, pants, boots,

and helmets.  At highway speeds, weaving in and out of traffic, cars, often, don't

notice them.

In India, motorcycles are a major form of transportation.  In cities like Mumbai,

with a population of 18 million people, one sees entire families on a motorcycle -

father, mother, and two children, sometimes more.  Many areas now have helmet

law but, usually, only the driver is wearing a helmet.  Other passengers - and 

the children - are riding without protective headgear.  Even the passenger with

a helmet is too often not wearing it properly.  Chin straps are not fastened so,

in the event of a mishap, the helmet would fly off the driver's head, affording him

no protection at all.  Of course, nurse that I am, whenever I am stopped in a

rickshaw or taxi next to such a driver, I have to say something.  If even one 

person listens and learns, I will be happy.

It amazes me that women, in their beautiful saris ride side saddle - or pinion -

as they call it.  Many roads are filled with potholes and they manage to stay

on board, often clutching a baby in one arm while holding on to the driver

with the other.  I just offer up a prayer for everyone on Indian roads and hope

I survive to get home to my California freeways - which aren't the safest places

in the world either!

I am participating in 

Thursday Challenge.  

This week's theme is:  transportation.

Submit your photograph to join in the fun.