A groundbreaking approach to racecar driver safety.

Basilar skull and upper neck fractures are the most prevalent cause of car racing deaths in the US each year. Frontal Head Restraints (FHR) can prevent these deaths through a high collar that tethers the racer’s helmet during a crash. But drivers complain that these high collars knock against their helmet and limit lateral head movement.

Our work with Schroth and our engineering partner, Enginuity Works, resulted in a ground-breaking solution: a collar that is low-profile during normal driving, but uses the kinematics of the crash to become “activated” into the safe (high) position at impact. This approach prevents severe/fatal injuries in crashes, yet is virtually un-noticed during normal driving.