‘SEAT BELTS, HELMETS CAN SAVE 70% ROAD MISHAP VICTIMS’

High-speed, chatting on social media/with fellow passengers and non-adherence to traffic rules account for about 50% of road accidents and trauma cases, said experts.

“Every year about 1.5 lakh people die in road accidents across the country. But, 70% of these deaths can be avoided if seat-belts or helmets are used correctly,” said Prof Sandip Tiwari, head of the department (HoD) of trauma surgery at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).

“High speed is injurious to the passenger on the rear seat, both in car and two wheelers as neither car passenger or the pillion bike rider use seat belt or helmet. As a result, the nature of injury to pillion rider is serious than the driver,” said Prof Tiwari. “Many people suffer loss of limbs in these accidents,” said Prof Samir Misra, senior faculty trauma surgery.

“Elderly mostly suffer trauma because they are unattended at home and also on the road. Majority of hit and run cases with the elderly happen as drivers overtake the vehicles from left (wrong) side. Unlike younger pedestrians who manage to save themselves, the elderly gets hit,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, expert in geriatric medicine.

The department of trauma surgery, KGMU had organised a walkathon from 1090 crossing, in which the participants walked till Lohia Park and then came back. They held placards and banners on road safety. The event had head paediatric orthopaedic, KGMU, Prof Ajai Singh, Dr Rajiv Mishra and other senior faculty of the medical university.