Lately many safety rules have been promulgated and others are in the pipeline: but is kart really becoming safer, or is it just all for show?

BY M. VOLTINI

REDLINE THE OPINION…IN VOLT

For some time now, every time I hear about new regulations in favor of safety, I get a shiver down my spine.

Why, you ask? Maybe I’m not for the safety of kartists? It is precisely because I do care about safety, instead! The problem is that, unfortunately, on many occasions safety has been invoked only in words; in truth, nothing has been done to increase it, and sometimes the opposite effect was achieved. Remember for example when they introduced the perimeter guards (fairings) that were supposed to avoid harmful effects in case of contact, but instead turned karts into bumper cars and races into demolition derbies?

Exactly my point: too many solutions are forced into place that in practice create the opposite effect due to their not being simultaneously accompanied by other choices, or because often in truth they only served to mask commercial operations.

WHY MAKE COMPULSORY WHAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE?

A striking example of what I am write about comes from one of FIA’s last meetings - last June 7 in Manila - where the talk was about “new standards for body protection systems”.

Specific consideration was given to the fact that many use chest/rib protectors not approved by the FIA. Already speaking on the issue in these terms should make one’s ears twitch: there is no mention of accidents and injuries, but of homologations and related taxes…

In sum, they would like to put into practice what has been rumored for quite some time: to homologate not only suits and helmets, but also the chest/rib protectors. An abominable idea not only because it hides the intention to “make some cash”, passing it off as a measure to increase safety, but also because one cannot see how this could actually increase safety. That is: how should these “corsages” actually be made to be really safe?

Is there a study conducted by specialized medical teams behind this “concern or care”, or do matters go by hearsay or, worse still, following the “suggestions” of those who build and sell these “protectors”?