News Item from India: Helmet Legislation and Enforcement in Karnataka

In 2004, about 7,000 persons died in road traffic crashes and 51,000 persons sustained serious injuries in Karnataka. In the city of Bangalore, there were about 900 deaths and 10,000 injuries that year. Nearly 40% of these injuries occurred to motorcycle riders and pillions, and more than a third of the injuries were traumatic brain injuries.

Karnataka is experiencing motorization at a rapid pace. Every day, nearly 500 motor vehicles, including 375 motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, are added on to the existing roads. Those injured and killed are predominantly men in the age group of 15-44 years (75%), but the number of women drivers is rapidly increasing in Karnataka and Bangalore city, and deaths and injuries among them are increasing too.

Since there are no helmet laws, less than 5% of riders and passengers wear helmets in Bangalore and in other parts of Karnataka state, use of helmets may be even less than 2%.

At the present time, officials and policy makers have been considering implementation of helmet laws. However, rumours and unfounded concerns about the effectiveness and costs have delayed the implementation of these  laws.

References: Gururaj G. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences. Bangalore: National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, 2006. The full document is available online.

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