Aside from car crash injuries, what are the largest health risks for automobile drivers? This question originally appeared on Quora: the simplest answer to any question. Ask an issue, and obtain an excellent answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You’ll be able to follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. I can only represent NASCAR, but car crashes aren’t of course an enormous health risk for NASCAR drivers. because of all the increased safety measures since the fatal crash that killed Dale Earnhardt in 2001, there has not been a driver fatality in an exceedingly NASCAR race since 2001. Crashes are one of the smallest amount hazardous aspects of the game.
Driving the Car of Tomorrow in an exceedingly race is persistently exponentially safer than driving the common consumer automobile on any given public road. within the wrecks, you see where the cars turn over several times and catch the light, and also the drivers are alienated in an ambulance, the drivers are fine and frequently annoyed.
NASCAR punishes pit road infractions severely. NASCAR is extremely vigilant about driver conduct and crew conduct generally. Judging from my personal experiences covering NASCAR races from the garages and pit road, and also the press releases I purchase, I might conclude that the best health risks for drivers are:
Inhalation of fumes (gasoline, burning rubber, second-hand cigarette smoke from crews and spectators within the pits). Yes, it’s shocking, but there’s abundant cigarette smoking within the same pits where they handle gasoline. Cancer in NASCAR drivers and inhalation of fumes haven’t been correlated to my knowledge, but the risks of inhaling second-hand smoke are well-known.
Substance abuse. I can only conclude that the strain of the game and therefore the travel during the grueling 10-month Cup season increases the risks of habit.
Hearing loss. The races are incredibly loud, over and over more so than the many rock concerts I’ve attended. Although most drivers and crews wear earplugs, long-time exposure presents a significant health risk.
Dehydration. A foul problem for a sport with such a lot of beverage sponsors, but a controversy nonetheless. Drivers are in danger of dehydration because of the length of the races. In extreme cases, it can result in deep vein thrombosis (blood clot). Cup Series driver Brian Vickers was ordered to prevent racing for six months by his doctor after developing such a clot.
