by Lindsey Karavites, MD
The most common cause of fatal injury and long-term disability in auto-racing are repeated head injuries. In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) accounted for approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits in the United States, either as an isolated injury or in combination with other injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are one of the primary causes of TBI, and this article explores the historical and current safety advances made in auto racing. Understanding design innovations in competitive racing is invaluable as they form the catalyst, framework, and experimental sandbox for mass-market auto safety innovations.
Image by Christian Sinclaire, from Creative Commons.
About the Author
Lindsey Karavites, MD
Lindsey Karavites, MD, is a general surgeon in residence at Sinai Health System and holds a Master’s degree in Epidemiology from Northwestern, Feinberg School of Medicine.