| One fact, though unfortunate, that every | | | | |
| racecar driver must face, is the fact that | | | | A great deal of speculation has been made as |
| they are at a high risk of becoming seriously | | | | to whether or not the use of the HANS device, |
| injured on the job. This is mainly because of | | | | or a similar safety device, would have saved |
| the high-speeds attained while racing such | | | | the lives of several drivers who met with |
| powerful vehicles. Because of this reality, | | | | head on collisions with a retaining wall. |
| race officials, along with drivers, teams, | | | | Most people do believe, however, that if the |
| and safety personnel, have started to look at | | | | devices had been made mandatory at an earlier |
| ways of preventing said injuries. One area | | | | date, many lives could have been saved. This |
| that has been under a great deal of | | | | may in fact be true, because without the use |
| improvement during the last few years looks | | | | of a HANS-like device, a driver's head is |
| into ways to protect a driver's back and | | | | left unsecured, while his body remains |
| neck. In this area alone, several safety | | | | strapped to the seat. This combination, along |
| devices have been created, many of which are | | | | with the right angle of impact, is likely to |
| now finding their way into the sport, in turn | | | | result in a base-line fracture of the skull. |
| making it safer. | | | | |
| | | | Since the recent publicity of the device, |
| One such device is the HANS device. | | | | programs have been put together by such |
| Acronymically named, the device, which stands | | | | big-name companies as Ford, whose aim is to |
| for "Head and Neck Support", has now been | | | | make sure that every racecar driver receives |
| made mandatory in several racing | | | | one of these lifesaving devices. The |
| organizations as an effort to prevent future | | | | programs, which are set up to help the |
| fatalities during racing events. It was Jim | | | | low-budget race teams, bring the safety |
| Downing, a former IMSA driver, and his | | | | device to those unable to afford it because |
| brother-in-law, Dr. Robert Hubbard, a | | | | of its large price tag. Any driver may |
| professor of engineering at Michigan State | | | | request a free HANS device, and in return |
| University, who developed the device. Their | | | | will receive the restraint that just might |
| efforts were not in vain. The device | | | | end up saving their life in the future. |
| dramatically reduces the chance of sustaining | | | | |
| a serious injury caused by the unrestrained | | | | It will never be known for certain if the |
| movement of the head during a crash. | | | | sooner use of such a device would have saved |
| | | | any lives, but what is known is the fact the |
| Physically, the HANS device consists of a | | | | device could have saved lives. As the racing |
| semi-hard collar, which is made from a mix of | | | | becomes faster, the danger to the driver |
| carbon fibre and Kevlar. This is held to the | | | | increases. With this increased risk, comes |
| upper body by a harness, which is worn by the | | | | the increased possibility for serious |
| driver. Then, two flexible tethers are | | | | injuries and even death. Everyone in the |
| attached from the collar to the helmet, | | | | industry needs to work together to overcome, |
| preventing the head from rapidly moving | | | | or at least, reduce this problem by |
| forward or to the side during the impact of a | | | | implementing new safety measures, such as the |
| crash. | | | | HANS device, to help prevent driver injury. |