I was watching a documentary the other day about the early years of Grand Prix racing. It highlighted the problems facing drivers during the early years of the sport due to a lack of Crash Protection. Back in the 1950s, 60s and the early part of the 1970s there wasn’t any Crash Protection for drivers that took part in the sport. The nearest thing they had to a Crash Barrier was a pile of straw bales strewn at the side of the track and if they crashed and the car burst into fire the bales of straw simply added to their plight. Thankfully the drivers took it upon themselves to force changes in the industry. From the mid-1970’s new rules were introduced to improve the levels of Crash Protection and today you see a Crash Barrier at every single racing circuit.
The purpose of Crash Protection is simple. It’s designed to assist racing drivers in the event of a crash. Crash Protection systems are fitted to the sides of motor racing circuits and proven products like an Armco Crash Barrier are used to keep a car on the tracks. If a racing car veers off the track it collides with the Crash Protection barriers and some of the impact is absorbed by the Crash Barrier. It deflects the car and forces it back onto the side of the circuit whilst preventing it from spinning off and running into the crowd.
It’s not just racing circuits that are fitted with Crash Protection though. Modern motorways and some high speed A-roads are equipped with Crash Protection as well. Drive down the M1, the M6 the M5 or any other arterial route and you’ll see a Crash Barrier on the middle section of the motorway which divides traffic driving on either carriageway. If a vehicle loses control and smashes into the Crash Protection it deflects off the Crash Barrier and will remain on the right side of the carriageway.
Thanks the pluckiness of Grand Prix drivers back in the old days our roads and racing circuits are safer due to the improvements and updates made to Crash Protection systems over the years.
Crash Protection by armcodirect.co.uk. Take a look at their website if you are looking for Crash Barrier and more.