Protection from brain injury

AHMEDABAD: That Amdavadis hate wearing helmet is an open secret. The gravity of reluctance to embrace the life-saving gear was apparent when citizens coughed up a stupendous Rs 1 crore as fine in 11 days alone.City traffic cops had launched a drive against two-wheeler riders sans helmets from November 18-29. In 11 days, (drive was suspended on Nov 26), cops penalized over a lakh riders who paid up a good over Rs 1 crore as fine! While the Day 1 fetched Rs 6.51, the highest fine was collected on November 20 wherein 15,139 cases were registered.Cops say that the drive also revealed how citizens compromise their safety citing reasons ranging from claustrophobia, vanity and even plain amnesia. Interestingly, cops said many carry helmets on themselves; just it is not on their heads but in the glove box of their two-wheeler! Sanjay Kharat, DCP, City Traffic (West) said despite compulsory helmet rule enforced for over a decade now, low compliance remains a grave concern.“In 2018, 265 fatal cases were recorded till mid-November. Alarmingly, over 60% of these were two-wheeler riding sans helmet. We have now started enforcing the rule strictly to ensure higher compliance,” said Kharat.Traffic officials said people give all kind of frivolous excuses for not wearing helmet. “Many people, especially youngsters would stash a helmet in the glove box or hang it around the side glass fearing it would ruin their hair style,” said traffic police inspector KD Nakum.TOI spoke to citizens who have learnt the hard way the significance of a helmet. Gandhinagar resident Vikesh Rawal, 47, who met a serious accident in 2010 confesses he would not have been alive if he was not wearing a helmet. “I was returning home on a stormy night from my factory in Nandasan when a tree fell on my head. I suffered temporary paralysis and memory loss and was hospital for over two months. Doctors say I was saved only because of the helmet,” said Rawal.Neurosurgeon Dr Kalpesh Shah told TOI how a large number of riders end up with brain injury for not wearing helmet. “I specifically remember an accident case where Sahil (17), who was riding pillion, suffered paralysis due to head injury without helmet. The rider, who was wearing helmet away with minimum injuries,” said Dr Shah.