Source: I have worked for a global car OEM in the restraints safety department. **TL;DR** My recommendation if a car is to be used at high speed frequently, say on a race track, STRONGLY consider installing a roll cage, bucket seats, a well-mounted race harness, and use a proper sized helmet AND HANS device. If you can't use all of the above, I would hesitate to recommend any incomplete combination of them. Rather, simply using the stock three point harness is likely to be safer. When you're driving on the road, only use the stock safety system of your car. You have a fundamental misunderstanding of how the stock 3-point harness in vehicles function. They do not arrest your body and have it 'rotate'. The goal of any road restraint system is to extend the duration of a crash as long as possible, therefore reducing the acceleration experienced by the body. Modern three point harnesses work in the following manner for a frontal collision: 1. A pyrotechnic retractor will tension the seat belt (webbing) in a crash, snugging it up against the occupant's body before the crash impulse reaches the cabin 2. The occupant's body begins loading the webbing until the load limit is reached 3. At the load limit, the spindle that the webbing is wrapped around will begin deforming under the force of the occupant pulling on the belt, allowing the webbing to play out and the occupant to move forward, while still applying a constant force to the occupant's chest without arresting them fully (this reduces the acceleration, or G's experienced) 4. The occupant will impact the deployed airbags, which will decelerate them further as gas is slowly expelled from the inflated air bags. The above is designed to minimize chances of thoracic, head, and spinal injuries based on the most common types of accidents seen on the road (

I’ve just made a choice. I won’t use a harness and helmet again without the HANS. Great video Rob!

I can see this channel going big in the future from all of that technical information and the time spent to put out this content Thank you so much for that effort and I hope you the best

in 2013 a good friend of mine convinced me to that to drive on the track "lapping" with a six point harness and a helmet was more dangerous than your #2 ; a two point harness with helmet. He convinced me to use a Hans device with the six point and helmet. One summer day while lapping at out super track in Mont Tremblant Quebec Can. my friend who was using a racing seat with a six point, Hans and helmet lost control of his recent 911 GT3 went off track and hit a barrier on at a + -30 degree angle with the front of the car. The side angle of the shock caused his neck to snap side ways and he broke his neck and died on the way to the hospital. The hans did not protect him; it is good for a frontal straight hit; it does not protect you on a lateral hit that causes your head to snap sideways. The solution seems to be a six point with a helmet plus hans and a racing seat with side bolsters for head protection that they use in NASCAR. I am returning to the track this year after a 7 year absence. i will be driving my stock GT3 Rs with a regular seat belt and a helmet. I believe that with this set up with the standard Porsche air bags in the steering and seats together with the body movement that the regular seat belt allows is the best option after the Nascar type seat, six point hans and helmet.

You had a lot of things right, however: ONLY use a 6 point if you have all of these things listed: A FULL roll cage (the one you have is not sufficient), a HANS device, and a helmet. The problem with using the harness, HANS and helmet (even if it was allowed), is that if the car rolls, and the roof gets a hard impact, you will be stuck in your locked in position and your head/body will be crushed. With a 3 point your head/body is more free to move around. The safest solution with no roll cage, is a normal 3 point with or without a helmet. The ONLY safe solution with a 6 point is full out, like mentioned above. Do NOT use a harness unless all these conditions are met.

I am a licensed racer that frequently does track days as well as competition racing and I have done extensive research on this subject, so here are my thoughts: First, I think it is helpful to understand why extra safety systems are needed for high-performance driving. Car manufacturers (and government regulators) when designing (and regulating the design of) cars for the street do not anticipate really high g-forces in an accident. They figure that you will not be doing high-performance driving on the street, and if you get into an accident, you will likely apply the brakes, take evasive action, etc, so you will, most times, only hit, or glance off of, something at lower speeds (like 35MPH, or 60 KPH). Because of this, they only design (and require) safety systems (like seat belts, etc.) for impacts at those kinds of speeds. This is why, when engaging in high-performance driving, you should use better safety systems. -The safest is a 6-point harness (and seat that fits correctly, and accommodates correct harness geometry) with a helmet and HANS, BUT preferably with a roll bar. In this scenario, you are firmly held in the seat by the harness (lap and shoulder belts), you are protected from sliding under the harness and injuring your lower back (sub-belts), you are protected from breaking your neck (HANS), and your head (and neck again) are protected from injury with the helmet and roll bar. Unfortunately, I have “used” this exact system when I hit the wall at a diagonal (right-front impact) during practice before a race, and I walked away with only 2 broken ribs. If I had a seat that fit correctly-with no side-to-side movement-I’m sure I would have walked away completely unscathed. I would not have had the incident at all if one of my suspension components did not break mid-corner 🤷‍♂️ -Safe in almost every situation is the same as the previous except with no roll bar. Without a roll bar, this scenario puts you at significant risk of injury in a rollover. This is because, if the roof crushes in, and you are held firmly in-place by the harness, you have no way to move to the side and prevent the roof from crushing your head. Even though you are wearing a helmet, you will likely injure your neck. This is why you should not wear a 4- 5- or 6-point harness without a HANS, helmet, and roll bar. -Driving with a harness: If you are pushing the limits (driving fast, etc) use a 6-point harness (5-point is OK for women, but not recommended for guys 😉). A 4-point harness does not protect you from sliding under the lap belts and injuring your lower back. It is best to only use a harness if you have a roll bar (as pointed out previously), a helmet, and a HANS. The reason for the HANS is that in an incident, a harness holds you in tight, so a HANS is needed to keep you from breaking your neck from the weight of your own head...and a HANS needs to attach to your head in some way to work (which is another reason for the helmet). -Driving on the track or road at a moderate pace (not pushing): I believe a regular 3-point seatbelt with no helmet is totally reasonable, considering the decreased risk of really high forces (especially if you have an airbag). Wearing a helmet is still preferred, if possible, and of course course, the safest is still a 6-point harness with correct seat, a helmet, HANS, and roll bar.

When I started racing (autocross, then track days, and eventually time attack) I did it with just a helmet and the OEM 3-point. I wanted harnesses but quickly learned it's a very complex, and expensive, thing to do right. Aside from neck injuries there's the risk of a rollover causing the roof to cave in, crushing your neck and spine if you're harnessed but dont have a cage. I went the way of getting race seats first, Sparco containment seats with the head restraints. I raced for two years in those with a helmet and the 3-point belts. Even with OEM belts it makes a world of difference. I went from being so tired after a track day I'd pass out by 7PM to being wide awake at 10pm, just from not having to brace myself through the corners all day. I have a HANS but havent had a cage built yet, so no harnesses either. I'm taking a break from cars for a while to focus on other stuff but when I get back to it the first priority is a custom cage, then Schroth 6-points. This is the order I tell people to do it when they mention harnesses: helmet with HANS anchors, race seat, minimum 4-point roll bar (no harness bars), HANS, 6-point harnesses (4-point ASM if you absolutely must but I'd always go 6 personally. Never 5, unless you dont care about your fun bits). And never use harnesses without a HANS even on the street, a small impact can ruin your life or kill you. Definitely not as dangerous as helmet with no HANS, but imo not worth the risk. Also never ride in a caged car without a helmet, again just not worth the risk imo regardless of padding, speed, etc.

in 2008 I had an accident during TF in a Caterham at the Ring. My passenger and I were wearing helmets and three point harnesses but the close proximity of myself and passenger meant we hit our helmets together. I had a better helmet and had a small hole made in it but my passenger with a poorer helmet had a larger hole and he suffered a brain haemorrhage and brain damage. Don't drive a Caterham or similar car with roll bar and close proximity of passenger without helmets, if we had hit our heads together without them we would both be dead.

This is probably one of the most important videos out there for anybody who likes cars. I had thought about this a lot in the past and you have now confirmed my ideas. Misha brought me here, you made me stay. Keep going man, that is quality content. I hope I can go from Spain to the Nurburgring in the not too distant future, rent on of your cheaper cars, go for a lap with 3 point harness and helmet and ask for a picture.

I used to work in automobile racing safety. I’ve looked at all of these in the past. For your car’s safety equipment, track rules, and your safety equipment: I’d choose 1. Porsche went through a lot of engineering to make that car safe for road use, trust that engineering. Choice 2 is also good.

Absolutely amazing informative content Robert. You are a pleasure to listen to. I really enjoy your videos. Its clear you really love what you do and you have the knowledge which shows your passion for all levels of cars

Robert, your channel is a hidden trove of useful information for motorsports enthusiasts and performance driving. Keep up the great content!

I appreciate and respect the honesty and transparency you display in your videos.

Robert, thanks for having me in the video at 0:56 :-) As always, very good content presented in a very understandable way, even for non native speakers. I took some laps on the ring last summer, together with my daughter. I also had made up my mind in regards to what kind of safety equipment would make sense in what combination. Finally we went for scenario 2: 3 point and helmets, which seems the best compromise in case you can't go with the "full package". The helmets not only to protect our heads from hitting parts of the car in case of a crash but from protecting our heads if they would hit together on a side impact, as example. Anyways, I enjoy your channel; keep up the good work, have a nice Christmas and see you at the Ring 2021!

Locally, we can’t even use Harness without a HANS device. They won’t allow us on track.

This is a really good and informative video! Good Job, Robert and keep up the good work! Also, the GT2RS MR looks amazing!

Awesome explanation, Robert! For me the first and second option (3 point harness) OR the last option (helmet on and Hans)

Each option explained makes a lot clear. Thanks for this Robert.

Fantastic Video. And the discussion in the comment section is fantastic. I havent done track days in a while but plan to go back hopefully next year. Will be reading and re-reading these comments!

This was unexpected, but a very welcome video. I love how much you point out safety in your videos, a very underlooked category in car culture, I think. As for the best setup: Setup 5 is the only way to actually push a car to its limit on a track. Trackdays and TF, I think setup 2 should be good enough. A category you didn't touch, but is important to me is rally trails, where I honestly don't feel safe without at least a 5-point harness and a full cage, because the greatest risk is often rolling over, in which scenario a 3-point is not quite optimal.

Thanks, Robert. You did very well describing and showing with examples big issues of partial safety system mix.

Awesome .. Awesome video. Finally someone took the time to do this. Been telling people for years to stop wearing harness's on the street.

Wow, that was an excellent and very thorough rundown on the different scenarios of safety equipment and their affects during an accident. The helmet weight and neck extension are two things I've never really put much thought into before.

Every scientific paper I have ever read on this subject, all two of them, says wearing as normal seat belt (3 point) and relying on the vehicle's airbags to prevent head injuries is by far the safest in a situation where you cannot wear a HANS Device. The TLDR of it is that if you cannot wear a HANS, all a 4+ point harness will do is isolate your neck to the forces being applied to your body from the impact. Like you said- the reason 3 points have been standard for so long is because they are the safest and most secure you can be without being fully kitted to go racing.

Nice topic, it actually made me worried... I track my car with harness bar, 4 point harnesses (FIA approved without AST) and helmet without HANS configuration, so it seems like I ticked off all the no no boxes:/ Thing I do not understand is why are track dedicated cars like Megane R26R or XBOW sold from factory with 4 point harness? Mind that Renault was first ever manufacturer to achieve 5 star Euro NCAP result (not with R26R though) so they know what they are doing... Another hazard to consider is hooking up 4 or 6 point harnesses with reclining half-bucket seats for which some manufacturers suggest that it is ok. Yes, I ticked that box as well... Keep up with the good work Robert, all the best!

Very interesting analysis! Having done Car Accident reconstruction myself, I can add that all the things I heard you say were reasonable. However, you were focussing on frontal collisions, as opposed to a side collision which often occurs when sliding off the track, unless your car understeers a lot 😉!

And another great video, Rob, thanks for it! Two thoughts: 1) The Pista which you & I have configured with the optional 4-point harness is a safety problem on the road when not used on track with helmet & HANS! Porsche does it better by leaving the 3-point harness for road driving when you order the 6-point harness. 2) I had a bad frontal crash at Pflanzgarten 2 in 2013 in a 997.2 GT3 during TF and I now realize even more after seeing your video how lucky I was not to get injured since I was driving with 6-point harness + helmet but no HANS due to TF regulation... "The Exige Cup 430 & Pista guy" (Damien)

Great video. Please keep bringing the community in depth videos of aspects amongst racing. Thank you

This is the type of videos we need on YT! Can you make video where you would explain how Nurbrugring affects your capabilities on public roads.

A couple of years ago the BMW Schools in USA stopped using helmets. The reason was that there is no airbag designed to work with a helmet. It is important to remember not only the steering wheel airbag but the side curtain. Apparently there was a lot of discussion with engineers and eventually they determined it was safer to go without helmets.

After many years of racing and many years of racing, I can without the shadow of a doubt say that the helmet is always my choice - no matter if I have 3, 4, 5 or 6 points. I have been in many stuffs and crashes in everything from exotics to open wheel single seaters, and a helmet is why I'm all alive. Yes, you are somewhat correct about the neck extension, but that takes a lot more force than something coming through the window, a roof being pushed in, and what else have you. Yes, I prefer my HANS, and I wear it when I can, but if a track requires harnesses but no HANS, I'm choosing that with confidence. My head has hit so many things that would have killed me had I not worn a helmet. On normal trackdays etc. I feel perfectly fine in a three point harness, and most often run that, but if the track asks me to use a harness if it's there, I don't discard the helmet. I have seen people get their head impaled by large shards of class, wood, and other debris because they did not wear a helmet. I fully understand your concern about the extension, but don't forget that for many years we raced without a HANS, and helmets still saved lives. You will need an insanely massive shunt for a helmet to be a problem, especially in modern cars with crumple zones. Wear a helmet because it will more often than not, save you.

The GT2 looks so good

I assume the curtain airbags would deploy as well preventing your head from hitting the pillars. If that's the case, scenario one would seem the safest because your neck and torso are not held tightly and can move and the airbags will cushion you from the impacts. With scenario two, the helmet can provide cushioning from the airbags, i am told they are pretty violent themselves. Scenario one seems safest to me. How many airbags in total does the GT2RS has ? I assume not less then 8 ?

Totally understand your point! Have same concerns about my neck when I'm lying in my bed and choosing pillows.

Never thought about this issue so much in detail. But after you explained it so smart, i go for solution 2. Thanks for the video!!

One of the best videos I have watched. That just makes things easy to understand and think about 👍

I've never questioned your judgement but your explanation echoes my own sentiment. You've got to find the best balance between safely and practical ergonomics that suits you. Great video!

Great video! I don’t do any track stuff really so never wear a helmet in my car but I bet that’s made a lot of people stop and think.

Very informative video and shows clearly logically what is being discussed here. Thanks alot going to get into racing on track more serious and this was good info

So in hindsight option 2 is the safest. I like the way harnesses hold you in the seat and stop you moving though, when not in harnesses I find myself using energy to brace myself when braking and cornering. All food for thought though for my next track day

Great information, things that I have never thought before, thank you so much Robert!!!

Hello 'Robert', you explain a number of options very well, for me option 2 would seem the best as long as your helmet does not hit the roof before the airbag has time to deploy as that would cause massive pressure in depressing the head into the spine !!! Regards, RichardA

Excellent video - never really considered the risks of just a helmet and harness. Makes you realise what a great piece of equipment the HANS is

You sir, just got yourself a new subscriber. Bravo! Had never thought of this before and it was so brilliantly explained, as you usually do. Next time I come to the ring I will surely visit you guys :)

As someone who races with a hans I agree with your vid completely, one of the other big vices of wearing a hans is that you can't look to see if the track is clear if you spin and end up at the wrong angle across the track, we have seen over the years many stupid preventable accidents because you literally cannot look to see properly if the coast is clear before moving .

Use a neck brace like in karting or motocross. This will prevent your neck to move too far forward while allowing you to turn your head to the sides.

Great video, Robert. You provide info that I (for one) would never have thought of (eg the way the 3 point seatbelt allows the body to rotate). Is there a version of the Hans without the back piece? Maybe that could provide the safety without the restrictions. Anyway now it makes sense why you usually drive the GT2RS without a helmet. Keep up the great work and enjoy 4 days of TF.

Thanks for the insight Robert. Surprising to learn that TF doesn't allow Hans device! I had a side impact with the tire barrier at 60mph without Hans in a low spec race(Honda Fit Cup), and it was agonizing, half of my body felt so numb which scared me quite a lot. After that, I never drive/race on track without a Hans.

Very good advice that most drivers don't know! If using 3 point harness wear a half size helmet for lightness, otherwise if you use the 6 point go with full helmet and Hans device.

Thank you for starting a good open discussion on this topic

Robert makes some good points. I have had the same concerns for years with safety equipment and road cars. For sure scenario 1 is the most engineered and optmised and it's even certified by the manufacturer with a EuroNCAP rating. In case of scenario 2, while it makes sense in terms of neck extension I still feel squeamish when it comes to helmet vs airbag impacts. What if the airbag is pierced by a sharp edge on your helmet? What if you have an open face helmet? Scenario 3, 4 and 5 are pretty much out of the question for safety and regulations...But now, here comes the real kicker to all this: I have a convertible. A 6 point harness is the best way to stay planted in the seat in the event of a rollover. In a 3 point harness I am too mobile in the seat with potential for my upper body being lifted off the seat and therefore my head might touch the ground.. helmet or not. However if the rollhoops don't hold and I'm fixed in a 6 point harness without the ability to duck or move my head will surely be crushed by the weight of the car. So what to do? The best solution I have found to this problem so far is to use a device called a CG Lock that I managed to buy while on a business trip in America. It is an adjustable anti-submarining device for 3 point harnesses that prevents you from moving your lower body from within the seat cushion, while keeping your torso and your shoulder belt free to pretension and decelarate you towards the airbag. I couple this system with a full face helmet at all times. I know it's not the most complete safety package, but for how I use the car I think it's ideal. Should I get into serious racing then I will invest in a cage Hans and harnesses

When they ask me "should i wear a helmet/full leather suit/whatever, I answer this: "nobody has ever regreted wearing safety gear, quite a lot have regreted not wearing"

Totally agree with all of this Robert. Great vid. Good explanations.

Excellent analysis. Personally I feel a HANS is a necessity when a harness setup is employed, for the reasons you've provided. Having had a big shunt last year on the road, I can vouch for scenario 1 being fine for driver safety as long as there's no roll over. On a track I just feel more comfortable with a helmet on at all times, however we don't have any situations like TF where you have so many cars and bikes on track at the same time with different objectives in mind. I can understand why a HANS is not allowed for TF, specifically for that reason, you need full range of motion and abilities to check blind spots etc due to the amount of traffic.

excellent review, makes me stop and think, understanding the neck and impact from my FF days in the mid-80s. When I was secured in the car with a six-point harness and Hans devices were not even thought of back then. It had backwards and had whiplash. Now with how you describe everything, and doing track events, will get a hans device and until then not use the six point, because of concerns with the neck. Never thought of it as you have described it....

I'm loving this type of videos more and more. Good Video by the way jejeje I think that for a TF day, 3 point is the way to do it, unless your car has roll-cage, then you should use the helmet. 6 point like you said I would be really worried about the neck injuries, those are serious stuff.

I never thought about it this way - all of your explanations make a lot of sense. For TF scenario 2 makes the most sense to me. With the GT2RS I would consider every situation being more of a rear view mirror thing - so they should allow your to use the HANS in TF at least for this car :)

Robert, Interesting discussion and some salient points. Perhaps there’s a sixth option. If you intend to drive at your own or your cars limit and have potential to hit the barrier at 90 degrees (head on) stopping from high speed to zero in zero inches, a correctly adjusted harness with a bmx / mountain bike / skiing style helmet and disconnected front airbags systems? In terms of your suggestions:- 1. Must say I’ve not noticed EuroNcap impacts with the dummies rotating within the seat belt and believe dummies are marked with liquid marker paint to ensure that correct impact with airbags and cushion are made and indeed control the facial interaction via the airbag deflation vent holes which are at the edges so the face or indeed helmet is captured in the centre 2. Harnesses have been used in motorsport for decades since the saloon car era, the point with harnesses is that you shouldn’t be able to reach the cars interior so lightweight helmets should be the priority over helmets used in open seat racers or in motorcycling where external ground contact can be made. 3. Cars are not engineered to crash at high speeds, euroNcap is a maximum of 40mph which is why roadside crash barriers deflect and redirect cars and not stop them dead. Airbags are commonly acronymed as SRS (Secondary Restraint Systems) and were introduced in the USA for drivers or passengers not wearing seatbelts so not needed when a harness is worn and as far as I am aware, never used in rallying or motorsport. It is probably a condition for the safety of the track marshals that they aren’t fitted in race cars in case they go off whilst a driver is being rescued? Phil.

I started racing before the HANS. I finished with a HANS. God bless Jim Downing (one of the developers of the HANS). Thankfully, I never needed to use it. I never knew about the body twisting during a big road car accident. Thanks for the update to my knowledge base

This is a very interesting video. I would love to see a part 2 who talk about the rollcage. For example, I want to talk about those case : 1) Backets seats with harness and without rollcage : What if the top of the car break and you cannot slide your body. You will be crushed because your body cannot move on the side comparing to a standard seat with seatbelt. 2) Backets seats with harness and with rollcage but no helmet : The top of the car cannot break because of the rollcage but you can crash your head in the rollcage, right ? I was hoping to mod my Abarth 595 with Sabelts backets and harnesses but it feel like a total bad idea considering what your first video demonstrate and also those twos questions that I am asking.

Quite scary to analyze the differing crash scenario, but once thought through, makes a whole lot of sense. New Reception sign looks great on the barn

I just learned SO MUCH from this video, thank you!

Very informative! Great Video.

Great video! I think in an old street-prepped car without a front air bag and side curtain airbags I would wear a helmet (with 3 point harness) but anything with airbags I wouldn't.

Does the GT2 have crash tensioning system on your 3 point lap belt like you 675LT does ?? Good video that helps educate those who may not have known or thought what is best.

Note to self from what I took from the video and some very useful comments: Medium safety: 3-point belt with / without helmet depending on how well the car protects you with airbags and such Maximum safety: 4/6-point harness + helmet + HANS device + rollcage Serious protection against side impacts in any case: side airbags or bucket seat with wings around helmet (as in Nascar) In terms of the effects: allow movement of upper body AND head - OR - immobilize upper body AND head AND roof (with rollcage). In general: ride safe or ride home. There are no shortcuts or off-days to your safety.

I’ve been tracking for a few years now including spending a lot of time with professionals at the Porsche track experience in Alabama. What you noted is pretty much on par from what I’ve been told. If you are doing “back road” driving on a track, 3 point and helmet is safe. If pushing harder, nothing safer than a 6 point with helmet+HANS. Cheers. And keep the good stuff coming.

Hi Robert, very good video! What do you think about very lightweight helmets like climbing helmets?

Thanks for a great and important analyze. Also the Hybrid is a good and probably even a better choise to protect the neck then it works in more direktions compared to Hans. I chosed myself a Simpson Hybrid Sport myself.

I come from a different sport, paragliding, where there is often a tradeoff between performance comfort and safety. The discussion threads go back and forth but I like the expression ‘which accident are you planning to have’ as in we can’t design our safety kit around limited scenarios

I agree. This is the reason why I still haven't put harnesses in my car. As long as I'm primarily driving TF and can't go all the way with the safety measures, I'd rather wear 3-point and helmet (or no helmet even, depending on driving and conditions).

Do u want an open face or a closed helmet if u dont have an airbag? With 3 point harness? Although i am far away from the wheel, since i am tall and the seat is all the way back.

I don’t like the six point harness! I drove the M4 on Zolder and it was so tight it takes away all body motion, it’s more fun to slide around in your seat (a little bit) which essentially means just a regular seat and seatbelt.

I fully agree - I had an accident 30 years ago in competition with harnesses and a helmet, pre HANS. I have permanent neck damage (C6/C7 disc removed). I think the best solution in a modern car with airbags designed for head restraint is normal seat belts with a light weight open faced helmet (I have a carbon Stilo helmet I use in my 458). Of course full harnesses and helmet with HANS is better if you are allowed to use this setup.

What do you think about racing neck brace collars? Seems to allow good visibility and at a good price..

Good Morning Robert. Thank You for sharing your thoughts. Never thought of All these Scenario. Never thought that The Ring has limitations on your safety gear. Food for Thought. 1 and 5 if possible. Stay Safe and Keep Healthy. Cheers from The Caribbean

Really well explained Robert. Great video

I'm too busy commenting comments that I don't actually wrote: hey Robert, nice vid and very good topic!

Thank you Robert, this was very informative.

Regulations for track days are changing, in Australia there are rules that were supposed to come into effect this year (delayed until next year) that mandate HANS when a harnesses is being used. In my opinion the only 2 proper solutions for track days are 3 point + helmet for street legal cars, or harness + helmet with hans. 3 point with no helmet for casual TF seems fine to me as long as the car has airbags.

That was very well explained. I enjoyed and learned from this video.

Great spotlight on personal safety. There’s definitely a lot consider, because a hans isn’t allowed I think that scenario 2 is the safest. Your head is protected and because your body can move in a relatively controlled manner the there should be little to no risk of neck extension due to the added mass of a helmet. An interesting discussion for sure!

I am curious, however. Did you do a similar analysis for anything other than a frontal impact collision?

What about 3 or 4 point harnesses with anti submarining technology like Schroth or Takata? So on the impact one of the torso belts are a little bit extended so the body would roll like in regular 3 point harnesses (but of course the body roll would be smaller)? Will be there still risk of damaging neck or spine?

Robert what would your thoughts be on if a car has a full roll cage fitted then a helmet is mandatory I believe also if it doesn’t have an airbag. 5 point harness/helmet on tf and then Hans on track day. The car in general being a older 90’s where a rollcage would be required for the ring as a safety point.

I've bee nthinking about this a lot recently. The HANS device you demonstrate only stops your head during a forward impact, but not in a side impact. In racecars, usually the seat has side bolstering for your head. I'm currently using a hybrid solution fro mSIMPSON that is similar to HANS but also stops the helmet from moving side to side. The trade-off is that it restricts the rotation of my head more than a regular HANS, so it reduces my ability to look around during e.g. a more busy trackday.

Yup the helmet question was a the back of my mind too. Excellent explanation of scenarios! Since HANS is not authorized for TF 3point and Helmet is your best option if you are going to push during TF. Would an open face helmet reduce weight in that scenario? Usually on Top Gear, Grand Tour or Fifth Gear the presenters are running open face helmet or rally style when they wear them?

Very good content, I'm extremely impressed by this video and the depth of your thought into this. I now understand how a three point harness combined with a airbag is actually pretty damn good

Let me start by saying that I am not a race driver nor do I have any affiliation with racing in any way other than being a fan. I live in Canada so the Nurburgring is not someplace that I get to drive very often, only twice in fact. I have driven four laps in a Renault Megane RS and six laps in a BMW M3 ( I'm sure you know where I rented from Robert). The cars that I rented did not have six-point harnesses fitted so the only option I had was a three -point harness with a helmet. (The rental company would not allow you to drive without a helmet.) I was fine with that as it suited my driving style and my expectations. Your video has brought up the six-point harness scenario and the three different options associated with it. I have to say it is not something I have thought about before but after watching the video and listening to your thoughts and concerns I think that the scenario #2 makes the most sense for TF. It seems to be the safest for all the points you mentioned. I also understand the restriction of the HANS device. Shoulder checks are absolutely mandatory for anyone on public roads, especially on the Nurburgring where there are so many turns and you can be overtaken at ANY point on the track/road. You have to be able to check for other cars before overtaking as well as constantly watching for others overtaking you. I had another trip to Germany planned for later this summer but I have cancelled it due to the Covid19 situation. I had planned a few days in Nurburg so I could get in some laps. I have rescheduled for 2021 though. I was planning to step up a bit and try a Porsche Caymen on this trip. What do you think? Is it a big jump from an M3 to a Caymen? FYI my daily drive is a 2017 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab with a 6.0 gas so I'm not used to high performance LOL. I have been told that I drive it like a race car though. I love your channel and your content. Keep those videos coming.

I completely agree with you and my thought for the past 10 years has been if you go with harness then you need HANS + Helmet to control the weight on your neck. What are your thoughts for the carbon helmet vs a more standard composite type helmet- the carbon is lighter, but is it that much lighter?

Glad I saw this. There was me thinking no skip the 6 point harness just use a shcroth 4 point road belt and helmet, i think this has convinced me though to keep oem belt for road and use 6 point harness with hans and helmet for track! My wallet won't be happy but my body will I guess if all ends in tears.

Thanks for that Robert. For years I’ve been stupidly tracking my cars with 6 point harnesses, half roll cage and helmet thinking I was maximising my safety. It looks like I should either be looking for a HANS device or just sticking to the 3 point belts.

Nice video with lots of food for thought! Having read most of the comments, I could summarise it to: - nr.2: 3 pt harness + helmet for TF in a street car with (side) airbags or - nr.2a: 4 point harness + ASM addition + helmet to benefit being more in connection with the seat/car Also, wouldn't car manufacturers take into account their clients might use the +100kph range of speed the car is designed for? Just wondering. Correct me if I'm wrong. Keep making these great vids! #besafe #flylow

Yo i cant drive a car due to lateral forces on my neck during turns. I can drive a moped as i lean in the turn but i cant wear a helmet. Could a hans device relieve pressures on post operative dislocated c4?

Are neck support collars, like the ones used in karting, allowed during TF? You can rotate your head more than with HANS... idk, just an idea.

Very well put, one other thing to bare in mind is that a car without a full roll cage, full harnesses are not recommended as in the case of a roll and roof collapse you head has no ware to go, add the extra height of the helmet and the problem is exaggerated. Similar problem as if you put a roll cage in a car and don't have a full harness or helmet you end up getting injured by smashing into the cage. If i missed those comments..sorry.

What about these Simpson neck braces that you often see on tv shows, would this help when just wearing a 3 point?

If you have a side airbag does that solve the issues of hitting a pillar in scenario 1 and 2?

What are your thoughts about convertibles? Roof Closed without helmet or roof open with helmet? I can’t wear a helmet with a closed roof in my car and I am unsure what to do and think the question fits the topic of this video. Thanks for your opinions

What about the foam collars ? Are they allowed? It seems they would provide “some” additional support in a situation where you wear a helmet but aren’t allowed a full HANZ setup...