Why don't race cars have air bags?

Wolf Harper

Because air bags are a feeble safety device when compared to decent seat belts.

And because in race cars, they want drivers to continue controlling the vehicle (as best they can) after a collision, not be stunned into near unconsciousness by the explosion of an air bag in their face, while their car drifts into the other race cars trying to avoid the accident. Same problem on the street, just this problem is ignored.

Really, air bags are all about the highway safety statistics. Statistically, they save more lives. That's true. But a lot of the lives they save are people who refused to wear seat belts. And while I'm glad they got saved, it's a lie to say air bags can replace seat belts. That's why seat belt use is mandatory in so many states. It's also true air bags injure you, sometimes seriously.

Roll cages are nice... IF you roll over, which most cars on the street do not, and anyway, air bags don't help you AT ALL in a rollover. I'd rather see better seat belts in cars than airbags. 3" wide mesh instead of 2", and 4-point belts (i.e. double shoulder belts).

I don't think consumers will ever accept crotch or helmet straps (much less helmets!) but then, consumers don't drive 180mph :)

kookie

Well bump and go would be out of the question while racing.If there isn't a accident happening..The air bag would surely make one happen, once you bump the front end hard enough into the guy in front of you...Right?

Tyson boy's dad

First off they are built much better. That's why they cost so much more. The roll cage within the shell is very,very well built.
Second is the seatbelt. The 5 point harness is still today the most effective on the market.

The average consumer car $12,000, The average stock car, quater million and up. Tremendous difference in quality and price.

Fordman

They have a full roll cage and a 5 point harness instead.

They are better off than if they had an airbag. They have wrecks at a 180 mph and walk away.

Cindybear

Because of that harness system they have, - 5point, as well as a roll cage.

skylineDude

Probably because they are so restrained already they dont need them. They have multi point harnesses, neck restraints, helmets, etc. so an airbag would be pretty much useless.

David K

Because with the roll cage, and 6 point harnesses, and the extreme helmets and now neck braces, they are safe enough. Air bags also would weigh the cars down too much and would always go off, causing for either more crashes because of a driver not being able to recover from a minor crash, to a driver loosing because of pit time needed to take it out or put it back it. Air bags are pointless in racing vehicles, they will seriously just end up doing a lot of harm.

Boo Radley

because of the five point buckle system. your body idn't going anywhere if you crash. in a regular car you'll still move forward even if youre wearing a seatbelt.

endac

Research in Europe showed that the velocity needed to deploy an ultra hi-speed air bag for use in racing was to dangerous to use, so more research was put into helmet restraint systems, now known as the HANS Device which is used in most international & national Fia sanctioned events world wide & top American motor sport events.
Formula 1 team McLaren & Mercedes also carried out a lot of research after Mika Hakkinen's crash at the Australian GP in the late 90's & found the system to bulky & dangerous to use in F1 racing.

genome_0000

in high speed impacts airbags are more likely to kill you, and can hinder your excape from a burning or overturned plus most race cars have 3,4 or more point harnesses and roll cages that do a good job of restraining people making airbaggs un-nessicary and dangerous pice of equipment

mossycheong

because there is simply no space to install them and moreover, the system will take up some weight so it will hinder the velocity. thus they make do with 5 point seat belt system to hold the driver in placed even in a collision. thats why they have to wear helmets!

THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT HE IS DOING IF HE HAD AN AIR BAG IN HIS FACE.

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