MORE than 400 people in the northern metropolitan area are living
with brain injuries caused by traffic and transport accidents, according
to the latest Transport Accident Commission statistics.
The TAC has recorded 442 brain injuries in its metro-northern’
region, which includes Hume, Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Moreland, Darebin
and Banyule.
Its statistics show an increase in brain injuries in the north –
81 people were hurt in the past financial year compared with 59 in
2011-12.
A steady rise has been recorded over the years – 181 claims were
made for brain injuries in accidents in the 20 years from 1986 to 2006,
then 22 in 2007-08, 31 in 2008-09, 28 in 2009-10, 40 in 2010-11 and 59
in 2011-12.
Last year’s statistics show that the northern area recorded the
third-highest number of brain injuries out of the six metropolitan
areas.
The metro-southern region’s tally was 123 and the metro-western area recorded 119.
The data shows that of the 442 people in the northern region with
brain injuries sustained from accidents since 1986, 137 have severe
brain injuries.
Gordon Rich-Phillips, the minister responsible for TAC, said more
than 4000 people had brain injuries caused by transport accidents across
Victoria in the past 27 years, and those with severe brain injuries
required lifetime care.
“On average, their medical and support needs will cost more than $2 million over their lifetime,” he said.
“Knowing that this many people in our local community need our
support is a reminder of why our road safety programs and campaigns
exist.”
A recent Monash University Accident Research Centre study found that side airbags were highly effective in preventing death and injury in side-impact crashes.
The study also found that the airbags led to a 61 per cent reduction of injuries to a persons head, neck, face and throat.
