Alcohol drives up road mishaps: Study

Hyderabad: There is an increase in the incidence of motor vehicle accidents which cause severe brain damage and death, says a study published in the Journal of Medical Health. The victims of accidents include people who drive two-wheelers without helmets as well as those who drive rashly after consuming alcohol.

It has been estimated that by 2020, motor vehicle accidents will be the third leading cause of death and disability in the country.

The study was carried out on 200 patients who visited hospitals after being involved in motor vehicle accidents. Their injuries were categorised as grievous and non-grievous. It was found that a majority of the victims who had been wearing helmets at the time of their accidents, had either been drinking before driving or speeding.

Dr Rama Krishna, a neurosurgeon, says, “Accident victims wearing helmets have also been found to suffer from grievous injuries, but they are caused by either speeding or driving under the influence of alcohol. Those who wear helmets and drive in a controlled manner but are still hit from behind suffer from abrasions in the head region. There are cases where victims are alert and save themselves by letting their bikes go. They come to the hospital with injuries to their arms or legs.”

People who wear helmets and drive safely usually escape with bruises and minor scratches, but there have been some fatal accidents where two-wheeler drivers have been hit from behind.

Of the 200 accident victims studied, 110 had not been wearing helmets. 80 of them suffered from severe head injuries and broken bones. Those who survived a surgery to the brain had to remain in the hospital for a prolonged period of time. Their rehabilitation took at least six to eight months.

Of the 90 people wearing helmets during accidents, 70 were found to have moderate to high levels of alcohol in their blood. Clinical evaluation of the victims revealed that they had been speeding under the influence of alcohol.