[New post] Helmets on, injuries off: How you can be safe while on the road!
Soc Dev Editor posted: " Even before the pandemic, many Filipinos have relied on motorcycles. Whether you are in the province or in the city, motorcycles have been one of the common modes of transportation — there are even a few motorcycle ride-hailing apps available! H" Edukasyon.ph
Even before the pandemic, many Filipinos have relied on motorcycles. Whether you are in the province or in the city, motorcycles have been one of the common modes of transportation — there are even a few motorcycle ride-hailing apps available!
However, the reality is still that motorcycle road crashes continue to take lives. In Metro Manila alone, major highways like EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue are almost always in the news because of these crashes. Is there anything we can do to prevent these road crashes and, by extension, the injuries and fatalities while we're on the road?
In NCR, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) releases an annual report on road crashes called the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) report. In the 2019 MMARAS report, MMDA was able to record 190 fatalities and 12,201injuries from motorcycle related road crashes. In 2020, the number of fatalities rose to 215, while injuries decreased to 11,690.
By nature, accidents may sometimes be out of our hands. We can't always foresee or avoid accidents on the road — but injuries and, most especially, fatalities are preventable!
Some ways to prevent road crashes are things we already commonly hear:
- Don't drink and drive
- Follow all road safety regulations by the authorities
- Don't speed; and
- Be alert.
Although, there's one more thing that we really need to emphasize: don't skip on wearing safety gear — most especially a quality helmet! Whenever you're going to ride a motorcycle, wearing things like a jacket, a pair of gloves, elbow and knee guards, shoes, and a quality helmet can be the difference between life or death, especially if you frequently ride motorcycles. These equipment can protect you from both fatal and non-fatal injuries when you find yourself in a road crash.
Quality helmets save lives!
So…why wear a quality helmet?
The data is clear: motorcycle riders who don't wear a helmet are three times more likely to sustain fatal head injuries resulting from road crashes. For every four people who would get in a crash and are not wearing helmets, three people would most likely end up with a fatal head injury. Would you take your chances? Definitely not!
Getting yourself a quality helmet is quick and easy. Simply take a tape measure and find the circumference of your head about 2.5 centimeters above your eyebrows. This will be your helmet size. Once at the store, you can pick the size of helmet that fits you as well as pick the style that would best suit your motorcycle-riding scenario. Daily commuters might find full face helmets enough but for enthusiasts who do off-road rides, specialized off-road helmets may give better protection.
Once you pick the right size and style of your helmet, also try to consider the price point of the helmet you're buying. Quality helmets that can provide the best protection usually run you a few thousand pesos. Quality helmets are an investment that, for now, may sound quite pricey but are actually much cheaper than, say, hospitalization costs in the future.
Now you know — so help educate others!
Knowing how to prevent fatal injuries from motorcycle road crashes is good if we know them ourselves. But, it would be a lot better if we get to also share this knowledge with our peers and communities to virtually eradicate fatal injuries! One way you can share knowledge is through a public service announcement (PSA)!
Call your friends and join in this year's HEADS UP! competition! You can join as an individual or as a team to create a video PSA about the importance of using quality helmets and following road safety regulations. Winners of the competition will get technical help to professionally produce their PSA which would then be shown globally on social media as well as get cash prizes!
To learn the full details about this year's HEADS UP! competition, you can check out their website here!
Let's all not settle for less, WEAR A QUALITY HELMET!
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