We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Automotive

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the HANS® Device?

By David Bishop
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 6,643
References
Share

A HANS® device is a head and neck support system used to protect drivers from injuries in high-risk situations. The system uses a pair of carbon-fiber tethers attached to a shoulder support system to help prevent the head and neck from snapping forward during a high-speed collision. HANS® devices are most commonly worn by race car drivers but also are used in high-performance boating and other racing sports. The restraints are credited with preventing head injuries in several accidents since 2003.

The HANS® device was designed in the 1980s to address the problem of race car driver fatalities in high-speed accidents. While safety features such as roll cages, safety helmets and seat belts offered some crash protection, drivers were still being injured or killed during high-velocity, head-on collisions. In many of these accidents, the seat restraints would keep the driver in place, but momentum would violently snap the driver’s head forward, producing trauma to the neck and skull. Several fatal accidents came as the result of Basilar skull fractures during various car racing events.

To deal with skull fractures and other injuries, biomechanical engineering professor Robert Hubbard designed the HANS® device to keep the head and neck from moving forward during an accident while still retaining the driver’s head mobility and field of vision. The device is made up of three main components: a shoulder support, helmet anchors, and tethers, which attach the helmet to the support. The driver’s helmet must be tethered to the shoulder area, not to the seat or other areas of the car. In the event of a crash, the tethers keep the head from snapping forward and moving too quickly while the rest of the body remains in place. The device is manufactured in several sizes to provide comfort and safety to different body types.

The HANS® device was approved for use for several years before being widely mandated by the major governing bodies of racing. Many race car drivers were reluctant to use the HANS® device, because they felt it was uncomfortable and might compromise safety in other areas. Adoption was slow until the deaths of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and several other professional racers from Basilar skull fractures around the turn of the 21st century. As of 2011, HANS® devices are now required equipment for drivers on most professional automobile racing circuits and have been credited with saving the lives of drivers in several high-speed collisions.

Share
WikiMotors is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wikimotors.org/what-is-the-hans-device.htm
Copy this link
WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WikiMotors, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.