In the context of the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week, a report on head injuries and the importance of helmets for motorcyclists was recently released in Kathmandu. The report was prepared by Dr. Pushpa Raj Pant, Dr. Saman Aryal, Er. Suyog Khanal, Suwash Bhattarai and Ishwar Ballabh Upret in association with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Nepal Automobiles Association (NASA).

Similarly, the report was made public in the presence of Hon. Yogesh Bhattarai – Member of the House of Representatives and Coordinator of the National Alliance, Rangmati Shahi – Central Member of Nepali Congress and Co-ordinator of the National Alliance, Arjun Jung Thapa – Joint Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, and Ashish Gajurel, Executive Director of Nepal Intermodal Transport Development Committee.

The report included a study of 419 individuals who were injured in road accidents during the months of Baisakh, Jestha, and Asar 2079 and admitted to Trauma Centre, Shahid Smarak and Manmohan Memorial Hospital in Kathmandu.

According to the study, among the total 419 injured, motorcycle and two-wheeler users were the most injured at 349. Out of them, 232 (66%) were riders. Similarly, 73 injured people were the pillion and 44 were pedestrians. Of the injured 232 motorcyclists, 14% were treated for head injuries and 55% were treated for hand and leg injuries. Similarly, 37% of the 73 pillion riders were treated for head injuries, 38% for limb injuries and 1% for spinal injuries.

Of the 62 head injuries, one individual lost his life, one was in a coma, two were permanently injured, 3 were undergoing treatment and 55 were recovering. In all types of injuries, the number of males was higher.

The study showed that the cost of treatment for patients with head injuries ranged between Rs 3,000 – Rs 18,00,000 and the patients stayed in the hospital for an average of 23 days. This shows that there is an unimaginable impact on the economic, social and personality development of the victims.

The report shows that while using two-wheelers, both the rider and the pillion rider should use quality helmets to reduce the chances of head injuries. It has also been pointed out that the current situation of emergency rescue after road accidents should be improved.

Bhagwati Sedhai – Road Safety activist, Krishan Singh Basnet – Coordinator of NASA Foundation Nepal, Gajendra Budhathoki – a   motorcycle accident victim, and Govinda Bhattarai – Executive Director of NASA Nepal, concluded that all two-wheeler riders/pillions should wear helmets to prevent two-wheeler accidents and eventually Improvement of public transport is the last option.