20% road deaths in Pune: Youths on bikes

Road accidents, head injuries and age group of 25 to 34 years: sadly, these are the common factors in 20% of road fatalities in the city, according to statistics obtained from the Pune police, hospitals and doctors.

In the last year, 429 people died in 1,531 road accidents in the city. One in five of these victims is in the age group of 25 to 34 years. Sadly, the number of two-wheeler riders, who mainly suffered head injuries, reached a whopping 20% of the total fatalities.

Dr Jagdish Purohit, head of emergency medical services (EMS) at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, said lack of adequate protection while driving is a basic reason for deaths in most cases.

“Rash driving, driving without helmets and alcohol are the three major reasons for fatal road accidents. At our hospital, maximum victims of road accidents have been under 40 years of age. A common thread is speed and the urgency to get somewhere on time. Usually two-wheeler riders and pillion riders meet with more serious accidents compared to those in four-wheelers as there are fewer protective measures like air bags or seat belts,” said Purohit. He added that in less than 5% of the cases, two-wheeler riders were wearing helmets.

The vehicle population in Pune is increasing and the city, which was once known as a city of cycles is now a city of two-wheelers, but that has also resulted in more people dying while riding two-wheelers.

The risk of getting life-threatening injuries in a two-wheeler accident is more, compared to four-wheelers.

The statistics of the Pune traffic police reflect similar facts.

Of the total number of accidents, 378 were of two-wheelers as against 347 of cars. A total of 78 two-wheeler riders lost their lives while 47 people died in car accidents. EMS co-ordinator at Lokmanya Hospital, Dr Shrikrishna Joshi, agreed that driving without basic protection is killing our youth.

“In most road fatalities, head injuries are involved. While it is difficult to save a biker with head injury and poly-trauma, if a helmet is worn then usually just poly-trauma is involved. Chances of survival are better, but sadly just a fraction of riders follow this simple formula for survival,” said Joshi.

Statistics reveal another trend i.e. most accidents take place between 7 pm and 10 pm. In 2011, a total of 285 accidents took place during these three hours in which 640 people were injured; 87 died in this time slot.

“The trend is observed in our hospitals as well. The maximum accident victims come during late evening hours or early morning office hours. That’s when they probably are in the greatest hurry and a slight lapse of judgment can be fatal,” observed Purohit.