manoj

Two teens killed in 6-vehicle crash

A deadly cocktail of reckless driving late at night and non-adherence to the seat-belt rule resulted in two teenagers dying and three persons being injured in a six-vehicle smash-up at Four Bungalows, Andheri, at 3.45 am on Tuesday (24Apr'07).

The deceased, Abhishek Sethi, 19, and Tarosh Diwanji, 18, were students. Police said the survivors of the mishap had worn their seat-belts. However, Gaurav Alwani, 21, the driver of the Maruti Swift that crashed into the most number of vehicles, was also saved by the airbag that ballooned out during the collision.

Police said that Alwani and Sethi, who was driving a Fiat Palio, were speeding down J P Road in the same direction at 3.45 am. Police estimated they were travelling at more than 90 kmph. The Swift, which was ahead, rammed into a tempo that came across it at 90 degrees at Four Bungalows junction. The Swift then hit Sethi’s Palio while the tempo hit an Indigo. The speed of the Swift continued to send it careening into a parked auto which was lifted six feet into the air with the auto driver still inside. The auto then came crashing down onto a milk van parked nearby.

While Sethi died on the spot, Alwani escaped injury due to the airbag. Alwani and the tempo driver Leo Caselino, 51, were arrested for rash driving and causing death due to negligence. They were later released on bail.

Cops sais drivers didn’t seem drunk, just reckless


Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 25-Apr-07

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

manoj

Despite a rising number of accidents and fatalities on Mumbai’s roads, vehicle drivers and passengers are still not seeing the wisdom of buckling up for a journey.

In the past month alone, the traffic department fined an astonishing 2,009 drivers for not wearing seat belts while in a car. The drivers and front-seat passengers are required by law to buckle up during a journey.

The state traffic department is now considering asking the Maharashtra government to increase the fine for not buckling up.

The present penalty is Rs 100 and officials have informed the government that, since this is not acting as a large enough deterrent, they want to follow the “Delhi pattern’’.

The Delhi government recently increased the penalty from Rs 100 to Rs 600. “After this increase, the number of people driving without seat-belts came down substantially,’’ the traffic official said.

Both victims of the deadly six-car accident in Andheri on Tuesday were not wearing seat-belts.

In fact, in the case of the Swift, the speeding driver escaped unhurt despite his car being totalled, because he had his belt on and the airbag also cushioned him. Meanwhile, a backseat passenger who was without a seatbelt perished. The Palio driver who died was also not wearing a seat-belt.

Traffic studies abroad have shown that nearly 60% of all road fatalities can be prevented if the vehicle’s occupants wear seat-belts. “But no one takes this seriously. The result is they end up losing their lives,’’ the traffic official said. Traffic experts said increasing the penalty can act as a deterrent.

Source: http://epaper.timesofindia.com (Mumbaii Edition)
Date Of Publish: 25-Apr-07

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

rupali

When we will understand the importance of seat belts?

In this accident teen paid the penalty for not fastening the seat belts.

anshuman

Rupali, Unfortunately, the teen could't afford to wear a seat belt...!!! READ...in the Backseat. Only a few countries make sure that the passengers of the back seat as well are made to wear the seat belts as a mandatory action.
In any case, the concern for safety goes beyond that....Have to be that extra precautionary and vigilant all the time.

manoj

Seat belts could have saved the two college students who died in Tuesday’s pre-dawn, 90-kmph crash

Abhishek Sethi, driving a Fiat Palio, and Tarosh Divanjee, occupant of a Maruti Swift, paid with their lives for not strapping on their seat belts.

“From Tuesday’s incident it is clear that seat belts do their job well. The one who was wearing it was saved and the one who did not have it on died. The boys in the Palio were driving at over 100 kmph. Even at that speed Sethi’s friend Rahul Vidhane was saved just because of the seat belt,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Harish Baijal.

“Even if the vehicle is at 20 kmph and brakes are applied suddenly, one feels the impact. So, even at low speed, a belt is essential. That is the reason the traffic police has made wearing seat belts mandatory. We regularly carry out awareness drives and fine errant drivers,” he said.

According to Baijal, use of seat belts by drivers and passengers decreases fa talties by 20-30 per cent. But nowhere in the city do people use seat belts unless the same is made compulsory. “However, this measure will help car users and reduce the accident death toll,” said Baijal.

The seat belt regulation has been implemented in the city since the past five years. However, queries like “If I wear a seat belt, wouldn’t I risk being trapped in a burning or submerged car?” are common.

Experts say less than half of one percent of all injury-producing collisions involves fire or submersion. However, if fire or submersion does occur, wearing a seat belt can save your life. If you are involved in a crash without your seat belt, you might be stunned or knocked unconscious by hitting the interior of the car. This can significantly reduce your chances of escaping from a burning or submerged car.

Science of seat belts

The three-point seat belt was the brainchild of Swedish aircraft engineer Nils Ivar Bohlin. His invention — a three-point combination lap and diagonal belt positioned across the pelvis and rib cage — has saved thousands of lives since 1959.
Seat belts are a marvel of complexity and simplicity. They combine Bohlin’s strong three-point harness with a relatively simple pendulum and ratchet mechanism that locks the belt in sudden-stop situations.

However, seat belt performance is dependent on proper use and fit. If not positioned correctly on the occupant’s body, it can fail to provide safety during a collision.


VEHICLE: The first collision occurs when the vehicle first collides with another object

BODY: Even though the vehicle stops, your body’s inertia causes you to continue moving forward until it collides with the inside of the car (preferably the seat belt)

AIR BAG: The only reason Gaurav Avlani survived the pile up was the ballooning of the air bag

ORGANS: The most damaging collision comes after your body has stopped. Your inner organs continue moving until they slam up against the inside of your body. This commonly causes severe haemorrhaging when the brain smacks into the skull at high speeds.


Source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com (Mumbai Edition)
Date Of Publish: 26-Apr-07

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Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.

ganesh

An Indian life is cheaper than a seat belt.

Do you know how we can tell the difference between people who were wearing their seatbelts and those who weren’t, at the scene of an auto accident? The ones who were wearing their seatbelts are standing around saying “This really sucks,” and the ones who weren’t are just lying there.

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"Rally Drivers Do It Sideways"

venugopal

Clearly by avoiding seat belts and helmets we show the same as mentioned in quote.