Ode to the Racecar: Improvements in Vehicular Safety Are Inspired by Racing

Racing has long been inspirational in the developmentSome technologies in racing are still providing
of vehicular safety systems. With Top Fuel dragstersinspiration to the rest of the vehicular markets.
plummeting down tracks at speeds in excess of 330Accident data recorders are small, lightweight boxes
mph in a quarter mile run, serious safety elementsmounted in racecars that record certain signals from
are essential.multiple sensors at speeds of up to 1,000 samples
Gleaning the benefits that years of research andper second. Monitored parameters can include wheel
crash testing provide, these top-notch safetyspeed, throttle position, steering angle, tire pressure,
features, then, make it into the passenger andthree-axes acceleration and seatbelt loads. Sensors
commercial vehicle markets. But it's not just paddingcan be located anywhere from the accelerometers in
and good brakes that ensure most racers survivethe car's roll hoop to the driver's earpiece, which can
potentially fatal accidents. It's also electronics andmeasure forces on the car and driver.
ingenious automotive engineering. It's research,Top-notch recorders can collect data throughout an
learning from every experience to maximizeentire drag race - versus older models that only
performance, and continually going back to therecord a triggering event and the periods before and
drawing board.after engine shutdown. The best are also modified to
Wireless warning systems, for instance, alert driversrun off their own battery power - rather than add to
to a caution condition on the racetrack bythe draw on the car's power system - and to store
transmitting a message from race control to adata in memory retrievable via a high-speed data link
wall-mounted receiver or light. Designed toto a personal computer. This assists experts in
supplement a track's existing caution system, wirelessassessing what was happening in a car at any given
warning systems allow racers to add additionalpoint during a run.
caution lights at key locations throughout the track,Accident data recorders provide information
such as at the turn and pit entrances, and nearimperative to deciphering the hows and whys of
spotters. If the system is rugged and portabletrack accidents. Data collected from these recorders
enough, it can be set up at different tracks forhave proven useful to car builders, track designers
every race - providing coded messages for security,and engineers in reducing the severity and number of
rapidly changing transmission and receivinginjuries associated with crashes. They have also been
frequencies to decrease the possibility ofinstrumental combined with medical reports, photos
interference from other radios, and acting as aand video footage in determining if additional safety
backup in case of power loss at the track.features could be beneficially designed and
While placing caution lights along the typical highwayimplemented. Such dramatic learning experiences lend
isn't realistic, wireless warning systems use conceptstheir knowledge to the greater vehicular market,
similar to lane departure warning systems and sideallowing automotive engineers to use this valuable
alert systems now used in some passenger anddata in making passenger and commercial vehicles
commercial vehicles. These systems, too, attempt tosafer.
warn the driver of a potentially hazardous situationMany of the safety systems developed for racing
through audio or visual alerts. When an equippedlater find their way in everyday vehicles. So the next
vehicle begins to sway into another lane, sensors intime you strap in for that morning commute, notice
the side panel are activated and a warning is issued.all the things that make you safer - and say thanks
When a potentially hazardous situation to the side ofto automotive engineers who develop racecar
a vehicle occurs, another alert is issued.technology.