SAFER Barrier

The SAFER Barrier ( Steel and Foam Energy Reduction barrier), also referred to as a soft wall, is a barrier line boundary wall, the meaning of which is to improve safety at motor sport racetracks. It takes place almost exclusively on oval courses use and is installed on there already existing concrete walls. An exception to the Iowa Speedway opened in 2006, was installed at the SAFER Barrier which from the outset in the outer region of the zone boundary wall and thus dispense with the usual hitherto concrete walls.

Technical details

The SAFER Barrier is made of welded steel pipes, behind which blocks of the plastic polystyrene are. It absorbs part of the energy generated during collision. This reduces the risk of which carry life-threatening injuries and minimize the damage to the vehicles, making them even has a financial advantage for the racing teams also.

History

The development of the SAFER Barrier began in 1998 in the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, University of Nebraska - Lincoln under the leadership of Dean Sicking. The work was sponsored by the Indy Racing League, which was also install the first organizers of motor sport races, the SAFER Barrier. This happened leading up to the Indianapolis 500 in 2002 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Robby McGehee was the first driver who crashed into the new SAFER Barrier, when he crashed on the first day of practice. Meanwhile, the SAFER Barrier is installed in the United States on almost all ovals with a length of more than a mile. All routes on which the IndyCar Series or top divisions of NASCAR driving, have at least in the curves a SAFER Barrier. On the inner boundaries of the route it is so far only found sporadically.

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• Track
• Barrier (component )
• Vehicle restraint system
• Vehicle Safety
• Metal processing