Young People Warned To Use RADAR On Holiday Mopeds, UK

August 1, 2007 – 10:36 pm | posted in Public Health

As people head out of rainy Britain for sunnier destinations, young holiday-makers are being urged to take care when hiring a moped abroad. Road traffic accidents are the biggest cause of death in the under 45’s* across Europe - higher than cancer and heart disease - with 1.3 million accidents every year.

The RADAR campaign, from Headway - the brain injury association, urges young people to follow basic safety guidelines when riding mopeds on holiday, to cut their risks of the devastating effects of brain injury.

The campaign is part of the charity’s ‘It won’t happen to me’ initiative launched earlier this year to warn young people about the devastating effects of brain injury. Those aged 15 to 29 are three times more likely to sustain a brain injury than any other group, often as a result of being inexperienced or careless drivers.

Headway’s Chief Executive, Peter McCabe, says: “It’s so easy to forget everyday precautions while on holiday and, when it’s hot, it’s tempting not to wear a helmet when riding a moped. But the risks are very real. Following the simple RADAR rules could make all the difference between getting on the plane back to the UK independently, rather than in a wheelchair or on a stretcher. We work with too many people whose lives have been changed for ever as a result of a moped accident.”

Research undertaken by the European Commission whose aim it is to halve the number of victims of road accidents among European member states by 2010.

Headway is now issuing an urgent warning to young holiday-makers to be aware of the risks when hiring mopeds and to follow a few basic safety rules, or RADAR:

– Remember that driving abroad can be more challenging due to different road conditions and highway rules
– Always wear a helmet - check for damage before you hire
– Don’t leave without having tested the moped’s brakes
– Ask to see the hire company’s safety certificates to check if they comply with the safety regulations of the country you are visiting
– Reduce your risk by not drinking.

Dominic Hurley was 21 and studying catering in Cyprus when, following an evening out with friends, the moped he was riding crashed leaving him fighting for his life in a Cypriot hospital. Thirteen years later he still cannot remember anything about the accident but the injuries, which plague him to this day, are more than a timely reminder.

Dominic says: “People need to be aware of what can happen when they rent a moped abroad. It might seem like a good idea but if you’re not careful, it can end up being the biggest nightmare you and your family can ever go through.

“I have no real memory of my life before the accident and I also have problems remembering things that happened last month. My injury means I haven’t been able to find work and that is not through want of trying. I used to love sport - I am a qualified tennis coach and was a member of football and squash teams - but I can’t play now, as I have little use of my right arm and walk with a limp.”

It was not only Dominic who was devastated by his accident. Following the initial terrifying experience of believing their son would die, his parents eventually brought him back to the UK still in a coma and attached to life saving equipment. His mother, Ann, ended up having to leave her teaching job to care for him for the next six years.

http://www.headway.org.uk

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