Why you should wear a helmet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: You might have umpteen justifications for not wearing a helmet as the city police step up their ‘helmet vigil,’ including hair fall, hearing difficulties or health problems. But the city police can supply you with enough and more reasons why you should be wearing one.According to a survey by the City Traffic Police, out of the total deaths caused due to road accidents involving two-wheelers in the past two-and-a-half years, from January 2009 to May 2011, 72 per cent were caused by grave head injuries. To be more specific, 72 per cent died due to head injuries simply because they did not wear a helmet. The list says a total of 2,212 motor vehicle accidents occurred on the city roads involving two-wheelers during the said period. Out of this, 155 were fatal accidents killing 160 riders. In 2009 alone, 34 people died because they were not wearing a helmet. The toll almost doubled the next year with 64 deaths being recorded by the police out of the 79 serious  accidents. The figures for the current year are frightening. The first four months of 2011 witnessed 20 serious accidents, in which 18 people died of head injuries. From Wednesday onwards, the City Police have launched an intensive drive to nab two-wheelers who do not wear helmets and penalise them. Besides two-wheeler riders, emphasis will also be on the car drivers who seldom wore seat belts. The drive has been launched as part of the efforts to ensure the safety of the motorists on city roads. City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said that even though the vehicles would be checked at major locations, specific instructions have been given to the local police personnel not to harass the riders or cause harm to them in the name of checking. Waylaying to catch the offenders would not be encouraged. "The primary aim of the drive is to spread awareness on road safety,  rather than hunting down the erring motorists and penalising them,’’ the Commissioner said. He also said that awareness campaigns involving film stars would also be launched in this regard.