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Each day, the João XXIII Hospital, an emergency unit in Belo Horizonte, which is a reference in Minas Gerais for multi-trauma care, receives on average 15 people who suffered a motorcycle accident in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. Considering only occurrences within the capital of Minas Gerais, BHTrans agents have noticed a predominant profile among victims: people with less experience on two wheels and who have migrated to this mode of transport, precisely the profile pointed out by a survey released yesterday by the Chamber of Shopkeepers. Belo Horizonte (CDL / BH), based on the educational campaign Ande Seguro.

For three months, in interviews with 653 motorcyclists, CDL / BH identified that more people are using the motorcycle to commute to work, school, or leisure in BH, occupying a larger slice of a cake that was largely dominated by those It uses the means of transport as a working tool - usually undergoing more qualification and accumulating greater experience. The survey shows that the presence of motorcyclists retreated sharply in the total universe of riders, falling from 44% of respondents in 2016 to 29% this year.

This does not mean, according to the coordinator of the CDL / BH Two-Wheel Sector Chamber, Milton Furtado, who has reduced the number of motorcyclists on the city's streets. "I believe the number of non-motorcyclists, the people who move around on motorcycles, has increased. We see a migration of people who had a car - which is a high cost - to motorcycles, which have a lower cost," says Milton.

He attributes to the economic crisis an important factor to understand this change in the profile of respondents. "Travel is faster, more agile and cheaper. A lot of people took the car, left home and went back to riding a motorcycle. This is a reflection that can be seen in the dealerships themselves, with the increase in sales of semi-new motorcycles. The new bike has also been growing, though still modest," adds Milton Furtado. Data from the BH motorcycle fleet show the increased circulation of this type of vehicle in the capital (see table).

The finding of more people using motorcycles from an interview that took place in August, September and October coincides with an observation made by BHTrans Road System director José Carlos Mendanha Ladeira about motorcycle accidents in the city. mining capital. "What we have identified is that the injured today is mostly the new biker," he says. The director adds that there is a constant movement of regularization of the profession of who uses the motorcycle to work, turning the moto boy into a professional known as a motorcyclist, which consequently increased the awareness and safety of this audience.

Also, José Carlos Ladeira points out that the actions of setting up exclusive areas for motorcycles have had an impact on this scenario for those who work using the motorcycle and increasingly need to move faster. In May 2016, BHTrans began the implementation of so-called motor boxes, to try to improve safety among motorcyclists, especially at the time of the start. Areas were set in front of traffic lights on Avenida Cristiano Machado for the positioning of motorcycles, which can depart before the other vehicles and therefore prevent the exit in the corridor. The initiative also migrated to Avenida Amazonas and is now being implemented in two corridors that run through the Padre Eustáquio neighborhood. The Padre Eustáquio and Pará de Minas streets have already begun to receive the new paintings, as well as the Olinto Magalhães, Rio Pomba and Três Pontas streets, guaranteeing the exclusive area both towards the Center and the return to the neighborhoods.

CDL's Safe Walk campaign promoted 18 educational stops in Belo Horizonte, reaching more than 3,000 drivers between August 8 and October 26. One of the perceptions with the actions was the number of motorcyclists in the Eastern Region of Belo Horizonte. For this reason, BHTrans also foresees the implementation of motor boxes in Rua Niquelina and Avenida dos Andradas. "It still cannot be said that it is because of this (the implementation of motor boxes), but the accidents, in general, have decreased," adds José Carlos Ladeira.

MOTORCYCLE CONDITION One of the main goals of the Ande Seguro campaign is to check the safety conditions of motorcycles and drivers, based on the evaluation of items such as wheels, tires, brakes, horn, relationship (set of parts that transmit engine power to the wheels). and helmet. Overall, the campaign identified improvement in virtually all items, except gloves, where worsening was observed. Of all 653 vehicles checked, 76% were found to be in good driving condition, 20% in reasonable condition and 4% poor. "We had at the beginning of this campaign, in 2014, 40% of motorcycles in bad conditions of use. Today we have 76% in good condition. So the biker is getting more aware. We have the motorcyclist legislation, which today is required to wear a reflective jacket, reflective vest, dog sling, and reflective plate. All of these actions have contributed to the improvement. Also, we have ICMS exemption for the sale of helmets in the state of Minas Gerais, which has contributed to the rider having a better safety condition," added Milton Furtado, from the CDL / BH Two Wheel Sector Chamber.

"The victims of motorcycle accidents arriving at João XXIII Hospital are predominantly young adults aged 18 to 35, male, but we are seeing a change in the gender of drivers. Before, every 10 accidents, nine involved men. Currently, the proportion is seven men and three women. We do not have quantified data, but I can say that most injured people do not have a National Driver's License. Most victims, 90%, suffer from multiple trauma, head and chest injuries. However, the number of meniscal injuries and leg fractures is also high. The average spending on each patient is $ 40,000 to R $ 50 thousand. Due to a large number of consultations in this type of case, there is a difficulty with the number of prostheses and orthoses to treat all patients."