ime and again the Formula 1 world has proved that the safest place on earth is inside an F1 car. The number one cause of racing related fatalities was the basilar skull fractures from excessive head motions and neck loading. With the introduction of the new Head And Neck Support (HANS) the drivers were able to overcome the only window for injury.The fundamental purpose of the system is to effectively form a single ?body? of the head and torso. HANS is intended to prevent driver?s head from being thrown forward in an accident, a situation which could lead to an overextension of the spinal column.
The potential of the HANS system is clear and has been recognized by racing safety and medical experts and by sanctioning body officials. Thus the head and neck support system has been made mandatory by the FIA for the 2003 Formula-1 season. Researches are being carried on for bringing a simplified, compact version of HANS into passenger cars.