RallySport Magazine September 2016

FEATURE: RALLYSAFE
better to be
SAFE than SORRY
Go back 40 years and safety in
rallying meant that the crew
(probably) had a bolt-in half
roll-cage made of aluminium, maybe
wore a helmet of one type or another
and wore long pants, but often only a
t-shirt during competition.
Perhaps a tongue-in-cheek comment,
but competitors were often reminded
not to roll into the scrub upside-down,
as it may have been difficult to locate
them in heavy forestry if they ever
wanted to be recovered. “Keep the
shiny side up!” was the call-out.
Move forward to the mid to late 90s
and there was recognition that covering
the extremities with long sleeves would
be a positive improvement – and cotton
was recommended, as opposed to that
pesky nylon which tended to burn!!
During this era, ‘OK’ boards and ‘red
crosses’ were included in rally road
books, so that at least a crew could
indicate to fellow competitors that they
were stranded (but unhurt), or in the
worst case, needed some assistance.
Red crosses were eventually
replaced by green crosses due to some
trademark issues, but overall standards
were lifted and safety in rallying was
finally recognised as an important
issue.
Having an ambulance on site to
follow the rally, or even a qualified
first-aider was probably a luxury at any
event.
Obviously that situation has since
changed dramatically, and in major
events FIVs (First Intervention Vehicles)
are strategically located along the rally
route to be able to render assistance in
the earliest reasonable timeframe.
While some of this reflection of days
gone by may seem incredulous, it was
real.
Recognition of the importance
of safety and the risks associated
with rallying as a dangerous form of
motorsport promoted positive change
at all levels.
42 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2016
Story:
TOM SMITH
As a result, no rally car competing
today should pass scrutiny without a
full and comprehensive steel roll-cage,
recognised safety-standard seats,
five-point safety harnesses and, for the
most part, HANS devices to protect the
neck and head.
Coupled with the integral safety
equipment in the car, crews are
wrapped in fireproof underwear and
multi-layer driving suits, and with
helmets that would have only been
seen in a space shuttle mission 25 years
ago!
It would be challenging to add to
the effectiveness of current safety
standards, but RallySafe does just that.
RallySafe is an innovative vehicle-tovehicle
communication system that
transmits hazard warnings via in-car
units during competitive rally events. By
using the RallySafe system, competitors
have the ability to understand where
they sit on a rally road, in real time, in
perspective with following or forward
competitors.
Most importantly, RallySafe shows
rally organisers where a car and crew
is at any time during an event. Using
GPS, GSM and satellite communication
capabilities, the system allows warnings
and vehicle data to be transmitted as
efficiently as possible.
Each car is fitted with a small
electronic module, incorporating a full
colour display, keypad, accelerometer
and radio transceiver.
The main safety function of the
RallySafe system is to automatically
generate hazard warnings in the event
of an accident.
The ‘Push to Pass’ function is a
brilliant innovation that allows a
competitor to warn forward vehicles
of their intention to overtake on a
potentially dusty or hazardous road.
In years gone by, passing a slower
car was difficult to impossible during
adverse conditions, and while some
drivers resorted to a nudge in the tail
of a slower car, equally, many drivers
overdrove the situation and ended
up off the road by trying too hard in
blinding conditions.
RallySafe is an Australian idea that
has been recognised worldwide as an
essential safety innovation.
Since its inception in 2009, RallySafe
has taken the rallying world by storm.