Safty experts think that Goverment should get involved

[Roselady3]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/moto...1-19-safety.htm

So what do ya'all think?

[Roselady3]

11/20/2001 - Updated 12:30 AM ET



Safety experts say government could intervene

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Safety improvements are needed quickly within U.S. auto racing or it may face government intervention to correct problems, some safety experts say.

An investigation by The Charlotte Observer published last week found that at least 260 people have died in the sport since 1990, with an additional 200 people suffering significant injuries.

This year has been one of racing's worst, with 37 deaths so far, including the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt.

"The numbers are rather staggering," said Dr. Robert Cantu, a catastrophic sports injury expert leading a study on racing for the American College of Sports Medicine.

"It just cries out for more work to be done, and if the industry can't — or won't — do something, then maybe it's time for some independent (government) oversight," Cantu said in an Observer article published Sunday.

The study found racing's number of deaths per 100,000 drivers was more than five times higher than the death rate for all of football.

"All of us were quite surprised to see the number of fatalities in motorsports. I thought I had a good handle on that but apparently we in the industry have no idea," said Dr. Steve Olvey, a member of the board of directors of the International Council for Motorsports Sciences.

Several safety advocates said that NASCAR should play a greater leadership role in making racing safer. NASCAR officials, however, said they will keep safety efforts focused on the organization's elite divisions rather than push for an industrywide approach to safety.

NASCAR had at least 36 deaths of drivers and fans — more than any other racing group.

"We can't be all things to all people," NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. "The trickle-down effect from NASCAR's Winston Cup series is probably the best safety tool we have to work with. Most of the people who compete at the short-track level look up to our guys."

NASCAR recently mandated head restraints for drivers in its top racing divisions and plans to install crash data recorders in cars. NASCAR is studying safety for pit roads, such as the one where four people were injured in a race earlier this month in Homestead, Fla.

The Observer study found most of the 200 groups that organize races set few if any safety standards at racetracks. The tracks rely on insurance companies to tell them what's safe.

Many tracks allow inexperienced, unhealthy and other potentially dangerous drivers to compete, while medical response can be inadequate, particularly at smaller tracks, the report said.

Congress stepped in when safety and corruption problems emerged in boxing. The Professional Safe Boxing Act of 1996 required that states begin regulating the sport and impose minimum safety standards.

"Racing organizations need to implement some serious self-regulation," said Shawn Lemmond, a former North Carolina legislator who now heads the state's boxing commission. "If they don't, it's in the public's best interest that somebody is overseeing this thing."


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[The Beer Baron]

If you remember the Hillsborough tragedy in England in 1989 when 96 people were killed due to excessive crowd congestion, a new set of guide lines were drawn up ensuring that all stadiums must be all seater with proper crowd control etc...
All football and rugby clubs had to update their stadiums or else face closure

I think there should be proper safety features at all racetracks, the FIA classifies race tracks the world over as regards suitability for certain series.

it certainly is time for all race tracks no matter how small to implement a certain set of safety features, and those that don't will face closure.

Since there are a few sanctioning organizations (NASCAR, CART, IRL, USAC, ALMS.....) it'll be difficult to agree a common safety innitiative, it'll take them all to come together and agree a common safety standard.

[KC]

The absolute worst thing in the universe that can happen to motorsports in general is to allow some government bureaucrat to get involved. They should not even be allowed to spectate for fear they would screw that up for everyone somehow.

Motorsports as a whole must remain proactive in saftey so that any interference is averted.

As always statistical numbers are tailored to fit any argument. While deaths are higher in motorsports, it is inherently more dangerous an undertaking. I wonder what the incident of injury is among ball and stick sports compared to auto racing? It is probably 10 to 20 times higher. Its like being a soldier, it is inherently a dangerous job, especially when at war compared to peacetime.

[nem]

Originally posted by KC
The absolute worst thing in the universe that can happen to motorsports in general is to allow some government bureaucrat to get involved. They should not even be allowed to spectate for fear they would screw that up for everyone somehow.

Motorsports as a whole must remain proactive in saftey so that any interference is averted.

As always statistical numbers are tailored to fit any argument. While deaths are higher in motorsports, it is inherently more dangerous an undertaking. I wonder what the incident of injury is among ball and stick sports compared to auto racing? It is probably 10 to 20 times higher. Its like being a soldier, it is inherently a dangerous job, especially when at war compared to peacetime.

When has motorsports ever been proactive??????

They are forever reactive. Sanctioning bodies don't get on the safety bandwagon till either a prominent driver is killed or the number of drivers being injured/killed has gotten so high they are drawing attention to themselves by the injuries/deaths.

Racetrack owners are even worse. They aren't even reactive until they wind up in court and the insurer says the won't renew their policy.

I will consede one point only. Before the advent of widespread computer technology, experience was the only teacher. For quite some time now the means has existed to be proactive, with modeling software, crash data recorders, statistical analysis. It is not being used by any sanctioning body that I know about in the context of being proactive on track safety issues. It is being used on chassis crash testing, but little else.

[Budmakesmewiser]

More politics in NASCAR is that possible,man i need to start my own racing series.

[Joe Fan]

This is a real insult to my intelligence. More people die in motor vehicle accidents on our highways than football, so what the hell does that tell you? For crying out loud, the government needs to worry about road safety first and forget motorsports. Motor vehicle fatalities are the NUMBER ONE killer of young adults so they need to focus on increasing the safety of our passenger cars, then they can worry about motorsports. If we all drove cars as safe as Winston Cup cars around on the streets with 5-6 point safety harnesses, you would virtually see the end of all motor vehicle fatalities provided everyone wears their safety harnesses. If it weren't for Ralph Nader, the safety of our road cars would be even worse.

They seem to come down on NASCAR for having the most fatalities but NASCAR is the largest motorsports series in the world when you add in all of their various series. If they are going to play numbers, how about the number of people killed in their road cars on the highway? This number is staggering in comparison. It would be interesting to see percentages of the two in order to get a true perspective.

[Roselady3]

The ONLY good that can come from this:
That NASCAR see what COULD happen if they don't take a few responsible steps. They could at least outline what they "recommend" for the drivers. Not even for the Cup & Busch series...more for the lower ranks & smaller series.

This could be the future.....
Goverment is more worried about SAFTY for NASCAR drivers than they are for the average person out there driving on unsafe roads with unsafe, uneducated drivers.

Well- One politician has a bug up his rump.....how long before it becomes a reality.

[The Beer Baron]

Originally posted by Roselady3

Well- One politician has a bug up his rump.....how long before it becomes a reality.

I bet some other sport, (not another motorsport series) isn't too happy about NASCAR's popularity, and they're having a few words with the government to get things 'seen to'

[Roselady3]

More like the official is looking for some publicity- so he'll speak about something trendy. RACING.

This isn't really directly affecting NASCAR- It's more the smaller racing series- but the average Joe (Sorry) thinks NASCAR- so the regulations will affect NASCAR.

Mike Helton said that it trickles down to the lower series. This problem might trickle up to become a problem for NASCAR. NASCAR needs to stand up & set the example for the smaller racing series to follow, before a govermental body comes in & does it for them.

OMG- I just sounded like Peter!

[The Beer Baron]

We're referring to Joe six-pack

Oh and Roselady, you would sound like Petie-poo if you belittled one of us posters, also you gave a very valid reason why NASCAR should without deriding us mere mortals.


I bet if racing started today, the mortality/injury rates of the early years would never be accepted today! I don't know how/why racing was allowed to continue in those days in the 40s

[Roselady3]

Hey- I'm the only one who gets to call him Petie-poo! LOL.

I would never belittle you- You're my S-P-! (You Too T!)

[The Beer Baron]

I shouldn't lead myself into a false sense of security regarding Peter, he can turn nasty pretty easily

[Roselady3]

Believe me I know!
He was more cival to me than to most.
He just couldn't take that a lady could know something.
He refuses to back down & pretty soon I'm like threatoning to smack him! (REALLY- Not kidding. I really wanted to!) I went at it with him for about 4 days about Simpson. Me & somebody else were tag teaming. It took ALL our efforts...but to no avail. LOL.

[The Beer Baron]

Originally posted by Roselady3
.
He refuses to back down & pretty soon I'm like threatoning to smack him! (REALLY- Not kidding. I really wanted to!)

I remember reading that , even I was trembling.

There's no point in trying to turn Peter to your way of thinking, I mean that wasn't the only tag-team against him, hey he never backed down when people started using chairs!

[Roselady3]

Originally posted by The Beer Baron

I remember reading that , even I was trembling.

Awww- but your a wuss! J/K LMAO. I got more PM's about that. I was being rooted on by the silent majority! LOL.

I have really been trying to be a good girl though. (sinse I learned that he lives 20 miles away! *G*)

[The Beer Baron]

Originally posted by Roselady3


Awww- but your a wuss! J/K LMAO. I got more PM's about that. I was being rooted on by the silent majority! LOL.

I have really been trying to be a good girl though. (sinse I learned that he lives 20 miles away! *G*)

Then I should have a go at him, I'm only a mere 3,000 miles away *G*

[Roselady3]

Go for it dude!
I would love to see it!
I think the milage would deture him from coming & getting you!
I don't feel so safe though! LMAO

[The Beer Baron]

But I hate creating trouble, even on the boards
I think Petie-Poo might take the next plane to Dublin and hunt me down!

[Roselady3]

Like I said- WUSS! ROTFLMAO-

Hey! Now what we supposed to be talking about????

Oh yeah- The govermental police job that they could pull if the racing industry doesn't get it's act together. I actually don't think it will happen. I just don't think they can say the cost of doing such is warrented. That money could be spent a thousand better ways & save more lives.
It is a dangerous sport with heavy vehicles. Big men with big toys.
It's not for candy A$$es.
I think that with this threat- the tracks- especially the smaller ones will jump up & cover their butts, in order to keep goverment from getting involved. I bet they are hopping to it now.

[The Beer Baron]

WUSS?

Well there was one time I wanted to trash Nodrog, but I calmed down!

[Roselady3]

You should have!
You DO know who that is right?
She thinks we are all so dumb that we can't figure it out!
I think the goverment should come in & regulate alter egos & double personalities! She's be in a butt load of trouble!

[The Beer Baron]

Imagine if the gov't did that, ban dual personalities, she'd have no one to talk to

[Roselady3]

ROTFLMAO !!! Funny!
I think she's up to about 4 now!
You'd think that she would give them different personalities. No- They are all the same. Mean! We've been friends for a long time- so I can say this---she has big claws!

[Lee]

For once, KC and I are in complete agreement! He is absolutly correct, that the worst thing that could possibly happen, would be for the federal government to stick it's nose into racing! They do nothing but F***-up every single thing that they touch! If government takes control or starts messing around with racing, that will be the end of racing in the United States! "I'm from the government, I'm here to help." For those from the U.S., that particular quote needs no explaination!