[EnubreBense]

Hello all, I'm currently a freshman studying motorsports engineering at IUPUI.
As part of an English assignment I'm required to gather information about safety opinions regarding rally. I tried posting in the rally forum, but I don't have permission to do that.

I would greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to respond, feel free to provide additional input other than just answering the questions.

What do you think of the current safety measures in most rally events regarding the spectators? Are they well protected? How is the crowd control? Are they usually standing too close to the track?

What would you say in response to the following possible solutions regarding increasing spectator safety in rallying, both in regards to WRC events and smaller events.

-Barriers placed along the entire length of designated spectator areas
-Some sort of security force in addition to the marshals
- Marshals and emergency operators who are required to take a certification test before they can work at a rally

Thanks very much!

[DoctorBeny]

Why can't you post in the rally forum?

[styhorporry]

What do you think of the current safety measures in most rally events regarding the spectators? Are they well protected? How is the crowd control? Are they usually standing too close to the track?

What would you say in response to the following possible solutions regarding increasing spectator safety in rallying, both in regards to WRC events and smaller events.

-Barriers placed along the entire length of designated spectator areas
-Some sort of security force in addition to the marshals
- Marshals and emergency operators who are required to take a certification test before they can work at a rally

Thanks very much!

Satisfactory in view of what they pay (usually nowt in the UK)
Not really
Bare minimum
Yes too close

Barriers - way too costly
Professional security - again too costly
Registered marshals - already have this in UK as much use as a chocolate teapot

The crews are spending enough already, fans must foot the bill for their own safety or go elsewhere they are nothing but a nuisance to the sport.

[HotDolly]

All your own opinion, which of course you're entitled to, but I'd be interested in your rationale for posting:

Registered marshals - already have this in UK as much use as a chocolate teapot

Seems more than a little reactionary to me.

[styhorporry]

I am one, nobody checked my abilities.

It is not policed at all, I just get my marshal's licence through the post, nobody asks what have I done recently and am I still up to scratch re new rules to carry the grade I do.

Complete and utter waste of time.

[amehoubFomo]

Hello all, I'm currently a freshman studying motorsports engineering at IUPUI.
As part of an English assignment I'm required to gather information about safety opinions regarding rally. I tried posting in the rally forum, but I don't have permission to do that.

I would greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to respond, feel free to provide additional input other than just answering the questions.

What do you think of the current safety measures in most rally events regarding the spectators? Are they well protected? How is the crowd control? Are they usually standing too close to the track?

What would you say in response to the following possible solutions regarding increasing spectator safety in rallying, both in regards to WRC events and smaller events.

-Barriers placed along the entire length of designated spectator areas
-Some sort of security force in addition to the marshals
- Marshals and emergency operators who are required to take a certification test before they can work at a rally

Thanks very much!

I feel that there should be recommended safe areas, which spectators should be encouraged to go to if that is their primary concern, but for those who want to get closer to the stages than others, that is their own perogative (subject to the danger experienced by the rally participants).

[styhorporry]

I feel that there should be recommended safe areas, which spectators should be encouraged to go to if that is their primary concern, but for those who want to get closer to the stages than others, that is their own perogative (subject to the danger experienced by the rally participants).

And when they get mowed down they will sue as they were in the safe area.

Charge them at least £20 per stage.

[Johnny]

Charge them at least £20 per stage.

That's the spirit, kill off a dying sport.

The level of spectator safety depends on the event, some are better than others, some go too far. Something like the Sunseeker always seem to be a bit OTT, steering you into very small spectator areas in crap places to watch. On the flip side the event also seems to attract a lot of idiots/fairweather rally fans that have no regard for their own safety...so the high level of crowd control is probably warranted.

At RallyGB the other week it seemed like it was quite strict with areas being cordoned off as prohibited areas, the thing is that these areas were out of sight of marshals, so were just ignored. The advantage of a rally that size is that there are a couple of passes by cars/officials before the stage goes live. Of course the downside of that is that once they;ve passed people are free to do what they want. One example can be seen in this photo:

IMG_3171 by Jan Yeo, on Flickr

The reason he's running wide (I believe) can be seen in the background, a guy right on the apex of the corner taking photos. After this car the chap moved, to the apex of another corner, but soon moved on from there when someone pointed out that he was probably at fault for the near accident in the photo.

[KkJvrG4d]

Rally spectator safety: Don't stand on the outside of corners. Centripetal force is not your friend.

Also, don't stand right on the apex of corners like that clown taking the photo in the picture above.

[uchetrip]

I have one note regarding fences, please, no fences they are much more dangerous to the crews if they are lighter, then they can be dangerous to spectators (when flying around) and also reducing visibility and therefore forcing spectators to spread more around stages.

This picture with Kruuda. I know his driving style, he likes to cut the corners a lot. In this corner, if I would be this photographer I would be happy to still own my head.

[Xfxhbcxp]

Just found this shots of the photographer next to Kruuda. WTF!

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr*: partage de photos*!

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr*: partage de photos*!

[letittbe]

I have one note regarding fences, please, no fences they are much more dangerous to the crews if they are lighter, then they can be dangerous to spectators (when flying around) and also reducing visibility and therefore forcing spectators to spread more around stages.

very good point. Often the too strict spectator regulation works exactly opposite than it should. If people are gathered into boring/distant/overcrowded places they tend to move elsewhere and therefore out of direct control. Always there are people like me who walk through stages somewhere far from crowds but definitely it is possible to keep most of common spectators in well-controlled areas. These places just need to worth visiting.

[Johnny]

Just found this shots of the photographer next to Kruuda. WTF!

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr*: partage de photos*!

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr*: partage de photos*!

Even though I was stood next to the guy taking this photo I'm still amazed by that!! Flodin (the car before Kruuda, iirc) also ran wide after turning in and then correcting.

Here's another photo I took of the same chap and his mate before they got really ballsy and moved to where that Kruuda pic was taken. Bear in mind that the next driver through was Tanak, the kind of driver that you want to stand well back to enjoy!

IMG_3104 by Jan Yeo, on Flickr

See also some other idiots with a flag (even worse when you realise that the driver is Matt Wilson ):

Wilson by Jan Yeo, on Flickr

[Binuilienzync]

Awesome pictures in the last couple of posts! I like to get close to the cars to get a real buzz, but the positions of some people is just crazy. Bet he had a great day out though.

Anyway, if there were no spectators I don't think many sponsors would be interested in the sport and why would car manufacturers spend millions to field cars when no one can see them? I pay for my own Rallying (because I have a cheap car and no one would sponsor me anyway!), but many need sponsors to support their habbit in all forms of the sport.

[Emunsesoxmete]

Just found this shots of the photographer next to Kruuda. WTF!

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr : partage de photos !

WRC Wales Rally GB 2011 | Flickr : partage de photos !

What a muppet! Reminds me of that joker than Colin Mcrae nearly flattened.

[exsmoker]

Charge them at least £20 per stage.

How would that solve anything? Is there any correlation between amount spent on an activity and level of common sense displayed by the person making that spend? I could go on.

[pongeystrhjst]

Why would you want to stand that close anyway? You're not going to end up with a good photo.

Rally spectating in Australia is very difficult, you are tied off into a small area behind trees so do see alot. That's why people will ignore the spectator points and go find their own places via access roads.

I think barriers is alittle over the top, people need common sense to not stand on the inside o corners like that. I have a similar photo which I can post from Aus

[lzwha]

Brynildsen's crash scared the hell out of me in Rally Finland. I was some 15-20 metres forward from the picture. Luckily the car bounced back on the road. Afterwards I've been thinking how I didn't react at all since I kept standing on the same place - official area - and two more crashes happened soon. Next year if the stage is run, I bet the spectators area won't be were it was.

[exsmoker]

Forgive me for asking what might seem a naive question, but is this sort of thing becoming more common?

[Johnny]

Forgive me for asking what might seem a naive question, but is this sort of thing becoming more common?

No. Watch a few Group B vids to see that. It's not just events in Portugal either (although those are insane), it was common for large crowds to be stood in stupid spots.