In Chennai, starting today, motorcycle riders are required by law to wear helmets. This law has provoked a lot of debate and I feel sharing a page from my motorcycle diary would benefit my friends.
10 May 2000
It was the annual performance review season, and that morning I was supposed to meet my boss with the appraisal form. On reaching office I realized that I had forgotten the form at home and decided to rush back and get it. I knew I was pushing the limits of my old KB100 but I did not want to be late – not on performance appraisal day.
The next thing I remember, I am in a hospital, drifting in and out of consciousness. I remember a doctor by my side; asking me my name and the panic rising, as my mind was blank.
I recovered from the shock after a few hours, but I still have no recollection about how the accident happened; from my memory, the event was thankfully blacked out. Based on what my friends could gather from the people who carried me to the hospital, I was driving at a very high speed, lost control, hit the lane divider, got thrown off the bike and landed on my face.
What I know for sure is that the impact loosened the bonding of the cranial plates in my skull (in simpler terms, I cracked my skull), and I was bedridden for two months.
I also know, without my helmet, I would have been dead.
So, to quote my favourite trucker,
Rule or no rule, Wear a helmet
OK TATA, Sound Horn
Babu Kuriakose, Chennai
June 1st, 2007 at 11:29 am
Similar incident happened with me few years back…
Even though helmet wearing is compulsory for 2-wheeler riders in Jaipur, I still was not in the habit of wearing one. The rush of youth made me flirt with the traffic cops. Even though I used to get scolding from my mom every time I went out on my Hero Puch without the helmet.
June 2004. I was undergoing summer internship at NBC, Jaipur located 8 km from my home and for a change (or as was proved later, fate decided this) thought of wearing a helmet that morning. At one busy intersection, riding at a speed of 80 kmph with that poor Hero Puch thing, I crashed into a lorry that had jumped the signal. Fortunately, the helmet took up the impact of collision and I escaped unhurt, but shocked a bit after that close shave.
Therefore, I support Babu in his appeal to all two wheeler riders to wear a helmet in the safety of themselves and their families.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Babuvin diary kurippu
Its worth learning from others than experimenting.
NO Helmet – Its Hell – Mate.
July 15th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Probaly the cracked skull helped you out of racking ur brains for filling up the PA form
July 15th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Ur Salad Days!!!!!!
August 25th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Helmet is dividing lane between life and death ?