Publications

Abstract Objective: Road traffic accidents is one of the leading causes of death in India. Due to the rapid increase in the number of two-wheeler commuters, the number of fatalities in victims involved in fatal two-wheeler accidents has also increased substantially. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of head injuries in victims involved in fatal motorised two-wheeler accidents. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 100 cases. Results: It was found that most of the victims were males. Motorcycles and mopeds were more frequently involved in fatalities when compared to scooters. Head injury was the commonest cause of death. This may be due to the fact that, in straddle type of seated position adopted by riders on motorbikes and mopeds causes the rider to fall sideways in the event of an accident and the impacting surface is usually the side of the head, this was corroborated with the injuries sustained over the head. This is not the case in scooters, as the position of the legs over the footrest in front allows for more manoeuvrability and prevents the rider from falling sideways. Conclusion: Hence, this study comes to the conclusion that scooters are a safer alternative to motorcycles and mopeds as a means of transport.