Sad statistics
Absatar Absamatovich, people with various injuries come to your department. What is the volume of patients injured by two-wheeled vehicles?
Absatar Abdyganiev: We accept victims from Yekaterinburg, from the neighbouring territories – Aramil, Sysert and others, as well as from the roads, including through disaster medicine. The most common reason for treatment is road accidents. Although we are used to the fact that in summer the statistics change and the main ones are injuries received during repair and construction work, especially when handling electrical equipment – saws, grinders.
However, both this year and last year, with the warming, the number of people injured in road accidents has increased considerably. In April, there were a total of 78 calls for road injuries, in May there were already 94, of which more than half were related to electric scooters.
Have the restrictions imposed by regional authorities on electric scooters not yet had an effect?
Absatar Abdyganiev: On the contrary, in 2023, during the same period, the number of calls was higher: in April – 106 injured on the road, in May – 111. We see a decrease, but so far these injured still occupy a large volume in the structure of calls. Every day we accept one or more victims. These include drivers of personal mobility devices, pedestrians who were allowed to be run over, and “passengers” – despite a strict ban, people continue to travel together on a scooter.
The solution is simple
Who is most susceptible to this type of injury?
Absatar Abdyganiev: Young people come to us more often, 70-80 percent of them are representatives of the stronger sex. Apparently, at a young age there is a greater tendency to take risks and disregard for the rules, there is a certain carelessness and inattention to others; therefore, young people are less likely to obey the speed limit, not to get out when crossing intersections, and this increases the risk of hitting other road users and colliding with a car; both drivers do not have time to react to the situation.
What are the main causes of two-wheeled vehicle accidents?
Absatar Abdyganiev: Some people are distracted by phone conversations. For example, one man ended up in our hospital with a hip fracture on his birthday because he received congratulatory calls while riding a scooter. Fortunately, most of the time the injuries are less serious – bruises, abrasions – but unfortunately, fractures, wounds and concussions also occur.
Another negative factor is alcohol or drug intoxication. We examine each patient and see that some of them have had an accident under the influence of alcohol or psychotropic drugs, spices and similar drugs. This condition is categorically incompatible with driving any type of transport, because it affects self-control, coordination, attention, excessive self-confidence and the desire to take risks.
In addition, there are few roads and sidewalks in the city that fully meet the requirements for safe movement on two-wheeled vehicles. There are irregularities on the road surface that are difficult to notice in time at high speed. There are no dedicated lanes everywhere, and even if there were, this does not guarantee that users of personal mobility devices and pedestrians will respect the designated limits.
What can be done to reduce injuries?
Absatar Abdyganiev: First of all, you have to accept that the pleasure of driving involves risks to your health and life, both your own and that of others, so you have to be focused, careful and respect other road users. Secondly, use protective equipment: knee pads, elbow pads and helmets that will protect the most injured areas of the body. Thirdly, pedestrians must get used to the fact that there are and will be scooters and electric bicycles in the city, which means that they must mobilize their attention so as not to be completely drowned out by listening to music or talking on the phone with headphones. The ambient noise must be used to hearing the signal that two-wheeled vehicles are approaching. Stay on the right half of the sidewalk and do not allow children to run on the sidewalk or cross the road. And I emphasize once again: it is important to be sober, including pedestrians.
THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATIONS. SPECIALIZED CONSULTATION IS REQUIRED.
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