The Role of Helmet Fastening in Motorcycle Road Traffic Accidents

Abstract

Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among the Indian population. Motorcycle accidents are the most prominent type of injuries among road traffic accidents in India. In this prospective cross-sectional study, all the patients attending three centers in north Bangalore, with facial injuries occurring from a motorcycle accident, were included. The subjects were analyzed for the type of collision, helmet use, type of helmet use, and fastening status of the helmets. A total of 311 motorcyclists were included in this study for a period of 18 months (December 2015 to June 2017). There were 79.7% males and 20.3% females. The most prominent age group was 21 to 30 years. The percentage of riders sustaining facial injuries was significantly more in the non-helmeted group. The most common injuries in open face helmets were in the middle and lower third of the face, whereas in closed face helmets it was in the middle third of the face. The numbers of injuries were significantly higher in the nonfastened helmet group as compared with fastened helmet group. Helmet fixation is an important characteristic along with helmet type for the better effectiveness and safety of the helmets for the motorcyclists.