In Karachi, 150 people visit the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre everyday for treatment of motorbike-related injuries.

Dr Raza Khairat, head of the neurosurgery department at one of the largest public sector hospitals of the city, says patients keep coming to the hospital with more or less similar injuries.

Of them, at least 300 patients get admitted to the hospital because their injuries are serious in nature. The neurosurgery department at the hospital deals with a bulk of these injuries, as the bike accidents often require surgery of the brain and spine.

"These accidents can lead to paralysis and memory loss. Or an amputation of a limb," says Dr Khairat. "Over 90 per cent people admitted with these critical conditions were not wearing a helmet."

According to a recent report, in 2014 at least 1,067 people died of road accidents in the city. In 2013, 1,130 people died in road traffic accidents.

Most of those who are injured in road accidents are motorcyclists. Of the 30,274 injuries reported last year, 25,855 people suffered injuries in cases involving motorbikes. Of them, 565 people suffered fatal injuries.

The Road Traffic Injury Research and Prevention Centre, which collects data from five public and private hospitals of the city states in the report that there was a 3 per cent increase in road accidents in 2014 compared to 2013.

The numbers of deaths and injuries could be higher as data tabulated here only includes people who came to hospitals for treatment.

The roads where accidents occur are: the National Highway, Korangi Road, Shahrah-e-Faisal, Super Highway, Hub River Road, Korangi Industrial Area road, Mauripur Road, SITE Avenue, M.A Jinnah Road, University Road and Manghopir Road, the report states.

The number of motorcyclists not wearing helmets increased from 13,271 in 2013 to 16,681 last year. Only 1,610 motorbike riders were found wearing helmets, which is less than one per cent.

In a recent decision, the Sindh government has made it compulsory for the motorcyclists to wear a helmet, whether male or female. The helmet rule, which was to be applied from June 1, is being ignored by the people who travel on motorbikes.

Helmets are considered a fashion no-no by women. "It looks funny. How can a woman wear a helmet," says Farwa Jamal, a young girl who travels on a motorbike to her workplace every day.

Medical practitioners, however, welcome the rule. "Wearing a helmet is essential. I am not saying wearing a helmet will prevent all sorts of injury. But in case of an accident it can save you from a life-long health condition or death," says Dr Khairat.

He maintains that the government must begin awareness campaigns for people. "Only if people understand the benefits of wearing a helmet, they will follow the rule," he says.

For this, he adds, it is important to start from schools and colleges. "And then as a second step," he suggests, "you can start arresting people for not wearing helmets."

At least 70 motorcyclists were killed and 10,000 others sustained injuries of different nature during the first five months of the current year, which is 82.61 per cent of the total road crashes in Lahore, according to Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue 1122.

The major causes behind bikers’ accidents include one-wheeling, over-speeding, reckless driving and not using helmets.

The comparative data of road crashes available with TNS shows the city of Lahore tops the 37 districts of Punjab province in road traffic accidents, especially in motorcycle accidents.

Based on statistics gathered by Rescuers 1122, 3000 victims were aged between 11 and 20, 4000 were aged between 21-30 and 2500 were between 31-40.

Under the category of reported injuries, the data shows that 10.28 per cent victims received head injuries mostly for not wearing helmets, 0.52 per cent spinal injuries, 33.63 per cent abrasion, 14.08 per cent puncture wound, 4.74 per cent wound greater than 5 cm, 3.92 per cent joint dislocation, 11.23 per cent single fracture, 1.29 per cent multiple fractures, 0.62 per cent chest injury, 0.58 per cent abdomen injury and 3.14 per cent poly trauma.

Thus, at least 1,000 bikers received head injuries, 900 got their legs fractured, and 100 received spinal injuries.

An official of Rescue 1122 tells TNS that rescuers had rushed 4000 bikers to hospital in unstable condition and 6000 others in stable condition. It means that 90.53 per cent victims were received from the accident places in a state of consciousness, 7 per cent semi-conscious, 2 per cent unconscious and 0.35 per cent dead.

The rescue experts have also looked at the literacy rate of the victims. It shows that 32 per cent victims were illiterate, 30 per cent had primary education and 24 per cent had passed their matriculation. It implies that literate people were more careful about traffic rules and regulations and they adopt safety measures while driving.

Also read: 2000 kilometres on a motorbike

It is also important to mention here that the monthly income of 68 per cent victims was Rs 15,000 or less which implies the financial constraints. Experts say if a driver is mentally disturbed due to domestic problems, he finds it difficult to concentrate on driving. Only 2 per cent people, who are drawing salary of Rs 31,000-70,000 a month, fall victim to road crashes, shows the official report of Rescue 1122.

Further categorising the victims, the data shows that 24.24 per cent people were students, 23.27 per cent labourers, 13.16 per cent housewives, 11.41 per cent private employees, 1.26 per cent drivers, 2.78 per cent elderly people, 3.27 per cent farmers, 1.01 per cent businessmen, 8.91 self employed, 3 per cent unemployed, 2.50 per cent government employee and 5.17 per cent others.

Another important factor behind road crashes is the timing of the day when most of the accidents occur. The data shows that 22.95 per cent accidents happened during 8:00-11:59; 22.59 per cent during 12:00-15:59 and 23.15 per cent during 16:00-19:59 hours. The ratio of accidents during 20:00-23:59, 400-0759 and 12:00-03:59 was observed very low.

In 2014, at least 150 bikers were killed and 3000 others received head injuries in 41811 road traffic accidents. Some 1800 bikers fractured their legs while 100 others received spinal injuries.

The officers of City Traffic Police and Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) are of the view that bikers can save their lives by wearing helmets as head injuries prove fatal for their lives.