Don’t know how the technology will help us street folk, but the soft wall and hahn’s device certainly did its job in the Jimmy Johnson crash last night. Could have been an even worse weekend for racing...
HANS probably will never become a feature of street driving, but things like the “soft wall” or SAFER (yes, it’s an acronym) barrier is working its way onto the street - several fifteen state highway departments are considering deploying that instead of or on top of the ubiquitous Jersey barriers. The outfit that designed the SAFER barrier also has designed a new metal guard rail type (using the SAFER system’s experience and design software) that is cost competitive with the old monster metal slab types but provides some of the same benefits of a SAFER system.
Racing pays benefits on the street, that’s for sure.