NASCAR 101 - The HANS Device

In the wake of the Eric McClure wreck from last weekend talk in the NASCAR world has turned to Safer Barriers and HANS devices. NASCAR RnR’s column, NASCAR 101, covered SAFER Barriers back in February so we will focus on the HANS device for this column.

The HANS Device is a neck and head restraint system that utilizes the car’s existing seat belt system and external tethers between the driver’s helmet and the HANS device thus limiting the amount of head and neck travel during a collision. The following diagram explains it very well (please see below).

Image courtesy NASCARmedia.com via nascar-assets.americaneagle.com