During the last 40 years, I have personally managed at least 25,000 cases of head injuries, 90 per cent of which were the result of two-wheeler accidents; 95 per cent of fatalities were in those not wearing helmets. There are also survivors who have either a mild, moderate or severe brain injury. They often have a residual disability. In 1966, when I was in class 11, my elder brother died in a two-wheeler accident. He was not wearing a helmet. In 1972, when studying medicine, my eldest brother met with a fatal road accident. He too was not wearing a helmet. In 2007, I appeared before the High Court of Madras — W.P. No.19587 of 1999 in a PIL and produced unequivocal scientific evidence that wearing a quality helmet is the easiest way of significantly reducing mortality and morbidity. It is my sincere prayer that other States follow Tamil Nadu’s lead in enforcing the ‘wear helmet’ rule (some editions, July 2).
Prof. K. Ganapathy,Chennai
