Roll cages??

TheBazman

Just wondering why there isn't more of a push to get roll cages fitted as standard in passenger cars? Obviously there is a cost issue and I'm sure the shell of most cars have some of the technology, but why not go the whole hog? I've seen some serious clips of crashes on the track where the driver walked away without a scratch. Would it not make sense?

Hotwheels

Where would yer passengers sit?

CiniO

Because you would lost the 3 spaces in the back.
Besides, both driver and passenger in the front would have to drive in helmets at all times.

peasant

Roll cages only work in conjuction with five point harnesses (and helmets) ...somewhat impractical for daily motoring. Plus, roll-overs aren't actually that common

Seth Brundle

TheBazman wrote: »

Just wondering why there isn't more of a push to get roll cages fitted as standard in passenger cars? Obviously there is a cost issue and I'm sure the shell of most cars have some of the technology, but why not go the whole hog? I've seen some serious clips of crashes on the track where the driver walked away without a scratch. Would it not make sense?

A crash on a race track is completely different from that on a road where walls and trees don't tent to have armco between you and them. Roads also tend not to have gravel traps!
I would also imagine that telling your insurance company about a roll cage may make them wary that you may actually try and test it - expect your insurance to rise IMO!

TheBazman

Yeah I suppose it isn't practical in the normal sense of roll cages as we know them, but you'd imagine that more progress could be made in terms of protecting the passenger shell. I dont know, maybe the technology has gone as far as it can for the moment. Either way I suppose it wont matter soon - with speed cameras on every road sure crashes will be a thing of the past :-).

unkel

Wearing a helmet in a car on the public road is illegal in many EU countries, isn't it?

Anan1

TheBazman wrote: »

Yeah I suppose it isn't practical in the normal sense of roll cages as we know them, but you'd imagine that more progress could be made in terms of protecting the passenger shell. I dont know, maybe the technology has gone as far as it can for the moment.

Cars can be made safer, but at a cost. And we live in a country where most people would prefer spoilers and shiny wheels to ESP.

CiniO

unkel wrote: »

Wearing a helmet in a car on the public road is illegal in many EU countries, isn't it?

What countries would it be?

bladespin

unkel wrote: »

Wearing a helmet in a car on the public road is illegal in many EU countries, isn't it?

Never heard of that one TBH.

BrianD3

I think the passenger compartment of modern cars is strong enough in many types of crashes to the extent that the occupants are killed due to excessive deceleration or overwhelmed restraint systems rather than due to lack of strength of the passenger compartment. Eg a roll cage would have made little difference in this crash in which a Golf is crashed EuroNCAP style but at 100 km/h instead of 64 km/h. The car shows extraordinary strength but the occupants would be dead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNFDeK6GLE

It is still an interesting discussion though. If you can find it check out the crash between Armin Hahne and Klaus Ludwig in the 1989 DTM. A massive head on crash that would have been unsurvivable without cages (and helmets and harnesses) Video has been removed from youtube but I found this pic of one of the cars

Hotwheels

A friend of mine has just finished fabrication on a 3 door cosworth, its fitted with a 48 point roll cage. Particular attention has been paid to side impact protection...Moved seat back, extra bars fitted to transfer energy around & away from driver, as much as possible..

Not exactly a car to go shopping in...:D

djimi

If nothing else wouldnt fitting a full roll cage absolutely destroy the fuel economy of the car given the extra weight?

afatbollix

unkel wrote: »

Wearing a helmet in a car on the public road is illegal in many EU countries, isn't it?

No not in Ireland or the UK anyway..

Ive often left my helmet on road sections as the car is very loud and need the intercom to tell the driver directions.

afatbollix

afatbollix wrote: »

No not in Ireland or the UK anyway..

Ive often left my helmet on road sections as the car is very loud and need the intercom to tell the driver directions.

Dunno about helmets but in the UK it's illegal to have a racing number on a car unless there is a thick line (masking tape or similar) through it.

Fey!

Aren't roll cages illegal on roadcars in Ireland, as well as 4 and 5 point harnesses?

Maybe one of the GTC guys on here can confirm this.

Mr.David

Fey! wrote: »

Aren't roll cages illegal on roadcars in Ireland, as well as 4 and 5 point harnesses?

Maybe one of the GTC guys on here can confirm this.

Surely they arent illegal - doesnt that renaultsport megane have one as standard, as well as say a 911 gt3 rs?

Seth Brundle

There are many racing cars that are road legal. However a roll cage and 5 point harness are requirements for race cars.

unkel

CiniO wrote: »

What countries would it be?

Well, Germany for starters. Remember the Lexus test driver killed earlier this year near the NB ring? It was reported he was wearing a helmet. It was reported that was illegal.

biko

Just get a Volvo, badum tisch.

antodeco

I have a full race harness in the car, and will probably be getting a roll cage put in. The reason being is the car is made of tin foil from 30 years ago, and I have to swerve out of the way of a wasp just in case!

KamiKazi

Far better ways to spend money to improve road safety IMO.

galwaytt

KamiKazi wrote: »

Far better ways to spend money to improve road safety IMO.

Ah now, come-on - let's not have common sense breaking out all over the place - this Motors, after all....

galwaytt

TheBazman wrote: »

Just wondering why there isn't more of a push to get roll cages fitted as standard in passenger cars? Obviously there is a cost issue and I'm sure the shell of most cars have some of the technology, but why not go the whole hog? I've seen some serious clips of crashes on the track where the driver walked away without a scratch. Would it not make sense?

There is. There are. You just can't see them, and NCAP show the results. A lot of older cars, esp those used in motorsport, would just fold like a tin can, so they need all the help they can get.

A modern, new, car performs very well in a crash as-is, tbh.

gofaster_s13

antodeco wrote: »

I have a full race harness in the car, and will probably be getting a roll cage put in. The reason being is the car is made of tin foil from 30 years ago, and I have to swerve out of the way of a wasp just in case!

As said already in this thread, unless your wearing a helmet, a cage is actually dangerous, also Race harnesses are also incredibly dangerous unless fitted properly and used in conjunction with a seat designed to be used with a harness.

afatbollix

RoverJames wrote: »

Dunno about helmets but in the UK it's illegal to have a racing number on a car unless there is a thick line (masking tape or similar) through it.

Not true Ive rallyed in the North and Scotland and you can drive around with race numbers..

JimmyCrackCorn

TheBazman wrote: »

Just wondering why there isn't more of a push to get roll cages fitted as standard in passenger cars? Obviously there is a cost issue and I'm sure the shell of most cars have some of the technology, but why not go the whole hog? I've seen some serious clips of crashes on the track where the driver walked away without a scratch. Would it not make sense?

Because roll cages are absolutely leathel in a crash. Big metal bars near your head is bad.

The only reason they work in motorsport is seats harnesses and helmets.

From a practical standpoint 5 point harnesses and a helmet on the way to tesco makes no sense.