A Proper Primer on Personal Protection

We’ve talked a lot about installing the HANS anchors, but what exactly are head and neck restraints?

While the HANS may have been the first, there are a few other options out there like the Simpson Hybrid and the Necksgen. The HANS and the Hybrid are both FIA certified, and, ironically, at this point HANS is also owned by Simpson. The Hybrid can use the same anchors as the HANS.

Both devices (HANS, Hybrid) perform the same function. From Wikipedia:

The purpose of the HANS device is to keep the head from whipping forwards and backwards in a crash, (while also preventing excessive rotational movement, as secondary protection) without otherwise restricting movement of the neck. In other words, it allows the wearer to move their head as normal, but prevents/restricts head movements during a crash that would otherwise exceed the normal articulation range of the skeletal/muscular system and cause severe injury. In any kind of crash, the person’s body, which is not protected, is decelerated by the seatbelt with the head maintaining velocity until it is decelerated by the neck. The HANS device maintains the relative position of the head to the body, in addition to transferring energy to the much stronger chest, torso, shoulder, seatbelts, and seat as the head is decelerated.

Some like the “backpack” style of the Hybrid. Some prefer the shoulder-sit of the HANS. It’s really just a preference.

What about a foam neck collar? A foam neck collar does nothing other than reduce head and neck fatigue. Despite what your local go-kart track might lead you to believe, it’s really not a safety device. You should get a true head and neck protection device. They’re relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of a new head or neck, and all new helmets are set up for them.

For racing use, every 5 years the devices are required to be re-certified which involves sending them to the manufacturer. For casual track-day and other uses it’s strongly recommended to have your device professionally re-inspected.

As the Hybrids are like “backpacks”, the sizing of these devices is based off of your chest size. For the HANS, the sizing is based off of your neck size and the degree of recline of your seat. HANS has “models” and “series”. The HANS model (20, 30, adjustable) determines angle of the back of the device. The Hans series (Pro, etc) determines the materials and overall weight of the device.

This article considers things like harnesses and seats as vehicle safety equipment, and not “personal” safety equipment. Choosing the right harnesses (to go with your head/neck device) and seats is something you should talk to your safety retailer about. And, overall, your safety retailer will be able to help you choose the right restraint, too.