Over the past thirty or so years, much progress has been made in racing safety issues. Things like better seats, firesuits and helmets, and head and neck restraints...better restraint systems, safety inspections by sanctioning bodies, and a more scientific approach to studying the dynamics of crashes...all have been key in reducing deaths and serious injuries in racing.
What do we still have left to do? We need to be more consistent in our efforts...we need to educate drivers, promoters, sanctioning bodies, and other safety personnel on the "best practices" in our business...we need to do research on subjects like fire suppression to determine "best practices" and encourage their implementation at our tracks. Frankly, we must also be willing to step up and eliminate "bad apples" from our ranks.
Real people and their families rely on us...the fans rely on us...the racing community in general relies on us...we need to get and keep our ducks in a row...we need to be willing to stand up for things we believe in...know why you are there...it is critical that we stay abreast on what is going on in racing safety...we do make a difference!
