Originally Posted by
79blue
The statistics show that 10 lives will be saved per year with this change, but the real cost for the tax payer is for those who are severely injured. This number far exceeds the number of deaths. When considering the cost of road traffic related injuries, it is not just the cost of initial treatment that needs to be considered. The lifetime costs of looking after severely disabled or brain damaged patients and their loss of economic output. In some cases this can run into millions of pounds.
To give an example, though not related to a traffic injury, I will show much my diagnosis of MND has cost myself and the state.
I was diagnosed with MND in May, having experienced the symptoms for 6 months. I have had to spend over £13,000 of my own money to buy equipment that helps my family look after me. This includes a stair lift (which now has be upgraded after only 4 months), a powered arm chair, bathroom rebuild and many other devices. The state has provided me with a hospital bed, hoists, wheelchairs, commodes and a lifting cushion. Next week I am a getting an eye tracking computer system that will allow me to communicate and control my environment (which on its own is about £4,000). I have on average 5 visits per week from different health care professionals and at present I can only travel by ambulance.
This in only 4 months is as you can see a large expense. Now image a young person with a severe brain injury requiring round the clock living for 40+ years. You can easily realise how much cost that impact on the tax payer.