HANS Device

A HANS Device (Head and Neck Support device) is a safety system worn by race car drivers to protect their head and neck from serious injury during crashes by preventing dangerous forward movement of the head.

The device looks like a horseshoe or "U" shape and sits on the driver's shoulders, resting against their chest and upper back. It's typically made from lightweight but strong carbon fiber material. The HANS device connects to the driver's helmet using special tethers or cables.

During a crash, especially a head-on collision, a driver's body is held in place by their safety harness, but their head can snap forward violently. This sudden movement can cause fatal injuries like basilar skull fractures. The HANS device prevents this by anchoring the helmet to the shoulders, keeping the head in a safer position relative to the body.

When impact occurs, the head restraint system transfers the dangerous forces away from the vulnerable neck area and spreads them across the stronger chest and torso. This dramatically reduces the risk of severe head and neck injuries that were once common in motorsports.

The HANS device was invented in the late 1980s by Dr. Robert Hubbard and Jim Downing after Downing's friend died in a racing accident. It became mandatory in NASCAR after Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash in 2001, and is now required in most major racing series worldwide, including Formula 1, IndyCar, and many other motorsport categories.

While HANS was the original frontal head restraint system, other similar devices like the Hybrid are also approved by racing organizations. All serve the same basic purpose of protecting drivers' heads and necks during high-speed impacts.