Preventive Measures of and To-do’s for Road Accidents

According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 4,37,396 road accidents were recorded throughout India in 2019. While over-speeding was the major cause of these accidents, other causes include faulty roads and human negligence. Based on the statistic, 38% of these victims were two-wheeler riders, followed by heavy-duty vehicles, cars, and buses accounted for 14%, 13.7% and 5.9%, respectively.

Some of the main reasons for the humongous number of road accidents in India include a huge population, heavy traffic, rash driving, ill-kept roads, and many more. To combat road accidents leading to serious and fatal injuries The Motor Vehicles Act of 1986 and the Amendment Act of 2018 was laid down. These acts specified rules which vehicle owners have to adhere to while riding or driving.

Here is a list of some basic road safety norms to follow while you are driving/riding:

Protection first

Your car comes with a seat belt, and every motorcycle rider is required to wear helmets for a reason—safety. Seat belts and helmets ensure safety not only during road accidents but sudden brakes during heavy traffic. While seat belts prevent you from being pushed forward due to momentum, helmets are responsible for protecting your head during crashes and road accidents.

Avoid intoxication

Driving/riding under the influence of alcohol or any other drug is not only a punishable offence but also a way of signing your death certificate. Alcohol or any other drug can cause dizziness, nausea, faulty vision, increasing the overall chances of a road accident.

Slow and Steady

Rash driving and over-speeding are some of the most common reasons for road accidents. Governments and police personnel across every state have put up speed cameras and speed limits for drivers and riders alike to maintain their vehicle speed. A slow vehicle always has lower chances of crashing into anything.

Servicing your vehicles

One of the most overlooked causes of road accidents is ill-kept cars. A well-serviced car/bike is always safer to drive/ride as opposed to vehicles that aren’t servicing at regular intervals. Lack of servicing can lead to wear and tear of brake and clutch wires, problems with the engine, and many more accident-causing situations. Servicing your car at regular intervals will go a long way in securing your ride.

Stay in your lane

Shifting and changing lanes while on road is hazardous and often fatal. The middle lane experiences the least number of vehicle convergence; hence it is the safest lane to drive. Always ensure to use indicators before changing lanes, to ensure safety for yourself as well as others.

These are just some of the basic safety rules one must keep in mind when they are behind the steering wheel on road. However, the mere essence of an accident is its element o surprise. Knowing the above mentioned safety rules can help you prevent accidents, but it is also important to know what to do once you are in a road accident.

Hopefully, you will never be involved in road accidents, but god forbid if you do crash into someone/something, ensure to check these following points:

Staying Calm Is the Key

No matter how difficult it is, keeping a calm head will help you deal with the situation, easier and with clarity.

Prima Facie

Identifying injuries on yourself and o your fellow passengers if any, it the primary thing that needs to be done after any sort of road accident. After checking or visible injuries, it is wise to inform emergency services so that they can rush to the location of the accident for diagnosis and first-aid. If the severity of the accident and the injury is high, try not to move around too much. This will prevent the chances of further internal damages.

Check for Damage on Both Vehicles

If you have not sustained any injury and you are in a position to move about, assess the damage caused on your and the second party vehicle. Try to pull your car off the road. If that is not possible switch on the emergency lights to ensure the safety of other cars on the road. If you are injured, call for help.

Report Instead of Fleeing

Fleeing the scene of the accident will be your primary reaction. However, this will only bring in more troubles later on. It is wise to inform the police authorities about the accident, so they can resolve the situation legally, with minimum hassle. You can also exchange contact and other required information with the second party in case you plan on filing a complaint or claim your insurance.

While these are the basic steps to execute after an accident, ensuring safety while driving/riding should be a primary concern for every rider and driver. Dr Sandeep Kapoor is one of the leading orthopaedic doctor and surgeons of India, who is internationally acclaimed for his expertise and steady hands. You can visit his website to book an appointment for consultancy or surgeries. With over 15000 successful surgeries and 30 years of experience, Dr Kapoor can prove to be of immense help for attending to hip and joint replacement surgeries, fractures, and muscle tears after a road accident.