road traffic accidents not a menace but terrifying [if you understand the magnitude), the PIL in supreme court of India

"Over the last decade, a few thousand Indians have lost their lives as a consequence of terror attacks. An estimated 15,000 people die every year due to malaria. But 1.2 lakh Indians lose their lives each year on the roads. And 10 times that number is seriously injured."

this is the quote from the Hindustan Times under the article "this neglect is tragic"

the same article quotes as below

"Although India accounts for only 1% of registered motor vehicles on the globe, Indians account for 9% of deaths caused by traffic accidents worldwide. Thirteen Indians die every hour on the roads."

Terrifying eh!

if you are using Indian roads!!!!!

this is not new as the link below has published articles on traffic safety in India and around the world

traffic safety articles for reference

but what is important, who is going to take the accountability???

the road user,

the other road user rather than me,

lack of adequate infrastructure and road signs,

lack of technology in the vehicles used,

lack of education,

government or the law maker and enforcer


we all will have different views, but here is an attempt to get the government to act on by owning at least part of the responsibility


article in hindustan times

but do we as road user, simply wait for someone to enforce something on us

sooner we enforce ourselves, we are not going to see the light at the end of the tunnel

Hope this article kindles your thoughts on road safety

warm regards

chockalingam

 

helmet for the pillion rider

most of us agree that helmet use is good for us, if in doubt refer to this link which is evidence based

                              cohrane database review on helmet and safety

however We often see drivers of motorcycles  riding without helmet in a country like India

hence you might ask why bother with the pillion rider!

however this blog is for the sensible motorcyclists who do wear helmets

we do see quite a number of motorcyclists wearing helmet but the pillion riders do not wear

often the pillion riders happen to be the spouses or children of the motorcyclists or friend or a relative


the safety is the same whether you are driving or pillion riding a motorcycle

(please refer to this site if in doubt of the above statement

he following study done in Bangalore, India

                            incidence of head injuries in drivers vs pillion riders)

in fact treating lots of road traffic accident victims, the severity of the injury is worse with the pillion riders

may be this is because they do no anticipate as they do not face the direction of the travel, i. e.sitting side ways


please refer to this link which clearly spells out the need for the pillion riders to wear helmets


the following is the law in UK

                                   rules for motorcyclists including pillion riders


hope this helps

warm regards

chockalingam

saety tip for pedestrians on the road. walk on the right hand side of the road where there are no foot paths

In India in particular, we see lots of pedestrians using main roads.

as a car driver, one tends to think that the roads are designed for four wheelers.

in other words, two wheelers are taken as a nuisance

then imagine the case of pedestrians!

a car driver or bus or lorry driver often is blinded to these important road users.

then what precautions does one, as a pedestrian need to take to avoid being hit by these two or four or more wheelers



1. Be seen well

2. See yourself well

Be seen is the common way pedestrians use now

but what is more important is as a pedestrian see the traffic well.

This is best achieved if you walk in the right hand side of the road

where you can see the oncoming traffic

if you want a reference please refer to

rules for pedestrians for road safety

which side of the road should you walk

hope this helps

warm regards

chockalingam

the paradox of lighting, safety in driving and human eye

Most people use brighter lighting for better vision and use high beam light whilst driving

makes sense but

more the bright the lighting the eye adapts

it lets in only minimum of bright light by constricting the pupil

the pupil is the hole in the middle of a filter of light in our eye



letting in minimum of the bright light increases the comfort

but what it also does reduces the field of vision

field of vision is the area in front, your eye can see 


coming to the point, whilst driving, when people use high beam,  it reduces the vision of the driver opposite to you

if the driver opposite to you cannot see you well, then it is not good news for you


makes sense?


hence do use the high beam lighting whilst driving only when there are no other vehicles in front of you

dip the light when there is an oncoming vehicle

for your own safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Hope this helps

Chockalingam

Safety Tip while driving or whilst in the car, The MSM routine

A Car was stationary in a busy stretch of the road

A two wheeler was passing by

The lady inside the car opened the door on the side of the road

the driver of the two wheeler avoided the door

but hit the on coming lorry and died

Very sad indeed

for safety it is better to follow MSM

M  Mirror

S   signal

M  Maneure


In other words whilst in the car before you do anything

look at the mirror

signal to the traffic

then only do act

try these links for more information

driving tip the MSM routine

 the MSM routine



Hope this helps

Warm regards

Chockalingam

safe driving tip

There is a statement written at the back of all the buses in Tamil Nadu

requesting the drivers behind to leave a gap of 10 metres

meaning that this would be a safe distance in case of sudden braking by the bus ahead

that you have ample time to stop your vehicle before it hits the bus in front



makes sense eh!

but how would one calculate the distance while on the move to be 10 metres

easier way is the two second rule


there is an earlier blog date written on 21st august 2011 titled

drive and be alive in India follow the two second rule


warm regards

chockalingam