Very few people, especially the guys, can claim that they do not enjoy driving, betting on, or watching racing cars do their thing.
Talk about formula one, dirt track, or even NASCAR, car racing is one of the most enjoyed sports around the globe. But having ever pictured yourself driving at those speeds when going about your day to day routine? Well, don't sweat it – race cars are equipped with highly advanced safety systems, not forgetting that they're designed and built with the driver and his partner's safety in mind. But in case it ever or never crossed your mind, some safety systems in the everyday cars we drive were or are actually borrowed from race cars. This is particularly important, since car manufacturers should keep in mind every vehicle blind spot.
Here are some example:
1. Alternate Composite Materials
Some of the first race cars such as the Mclaren MP4/1 had a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. While it was used to improve performance in earlier race cars, manufacturers of everyday cars are using this technology to make the car lighter and improve fuel efficiency. Even though not so directly, this can be viewed as a safety enhancement feature.
2. Safety cage and structure
Most race cars in formula one and the other major leagues are built with a safety cage or a roll cage, which protects the driver from injury in the case of an impact accident. These are used in some modern-day cars. The 2013 Ford Fiesta sedan is a good example.
3. Advanced Braking System (ABS)
The brakes are a giant safety feature in any car. ABS or Advanced braking system is a great safety feature that has been used in many everyday cars. With this feature, the wheels do not lock under heavy braking, which minimizes the risk or overturning while offering better control to the driver.
4. Traction Control (TC)
Also known as electronic stability control ESC, TC improves vehicle control when driving around corners. It is a feature derived from racing cars, which is now highly common in regular street cars.
5. High-security seat belts
Every car comes with seat belts as a major safety system. They minimize the amount of injury in the event of a car crash or impact. However, modern cars come with high-security seatbelts designed to mimic the ones used in race cars. For instance, the formula 1 6-point harness seat belt works in a similar manner to the 3-point seatbelt most road cars are equipped with.
6. Monocoque chassis
In race cars, the main parts of the chassis, the monocoque acts as both a safety device and a structural component. The strongest variants are made from multi-layered carbon fiber material. This safety feature has been seen in a number of everyday cars, including some BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, and Bugatti models.
8. Suspension
Suspension systems keep the car stable, especially when in motion at high speed, which improves safety. But then again, both race cars and road cars have suspension systems, the only difference being that race car suspensions are designed for speed and high performance rather than comfort.
9.Aerodynamics
Simply put, aerodynamics refers to how well the air flows past your car during motion. Cars with excellent aerodynamic designs are more stable and more efficient. This is another race car-derived safety systems that everyday cars of today have.
10. Radial Tyres
Modern cars come with radial tires, which are often safer than soft rubber tires, especially in slippery weather. This is because they provide a sticky grip on the roads/racetrack. The safety system was derived from race cars.
In addition to the above, other important safety features to look for in a car may include airbags, departure warning, blind spot detection, reversing alarms, camera systems, obstacle detection devices, and collision mitigation features, among others. Looking for a particular car safety system? Brigade Electronics is a good example of the few trusted suppliers you can reach out to.
