ASN Safety Bulletin #19 Protection of Hazards on Rally Stages

16 Jul 2022 > Safety Bulletin

Dear colleagues,

As we all know, the organization and planning of a rally is a complex and challenging process, with many factors that must be considered in order to deliver an exciting and safe event for competitors, officials and spectators alike.

The FIA Rally Safety web page gives you access to a number of resources provided by the FIA to support clubs with rally event organization. We would invite you to visit and share this content with all relevant stakeholders: https://www.fia.com/rally-safety

In particular we would like to highlight the FIA Rally Safety Guidelines. Launched in 2019, these guidelines are the result of an intensive period of analysis and consultation regarding the safe running of rally events around the world. The document contains information on an extensive variety of topics relevant for organizing a safe rally event with cost effective operational measures.

Based on recent observations from rallies around the world, in this ASN Safety Bulletin we would like to highlight some key points from the FIA Rally Safety Guidelines relating to stage selection and design, and specifically the process of identifying and mitigating potential hazards on each stage.

Key Points:

The first step in selecting a rally stage is to conduct a risk assessment to determine if it is feasible to use that section of road for closed road competition. The risk assessment should identify any potential conditions that could foreseeably cause or contribute to an accident or incident.

If it is a new stage, a draft safety plan should be prepared identifying such hazards and possible solutions. If it is an existing stage, previous event reports detailing accident black spots and videos of previous stage usage should be reviewed to check if anything can be improved. In both cases an estimation of the speed of competition cars can help to understand the risks involved.

If, after working on a safety plan during the planning of a stage not all hazards can be appropriately mitigated then the road is not suitable: it is better to look for another location for your special stage.

A stage inspection should always be carried out prior to the event to ensure that the stage is prepared correctly according to the safety plan and to confirm the condition of the road is still as expected: surfaces can degrade with traffic or heavy rain in the days leading up to the event.

The use of an experienced driver and co-driver driving through the special stages before the stage goes live can also have a huge benefit. They will be able to recognise hazardous areas due to the approaching speed or changes of surface. This process should be applied to the entire stage, not just spectator areas.

Common hazards on rally stages and potential mitigation measures are described below.

1. Static hazards:

The very nature of closed road competition is that it often takes place on roads that are in regular use all year round. Road furniture such as signs or barriers are often not designed for the speeds or the approach direction that will be seen during the competition. Guard rails can have exposed ends, or ramped sections that, if not adequately protected, could penetrate a competing car, or act as a ramp to launch a car over the hazard they are designed to protect.

Many static hazards need to be taken into account, including:

Buildings - Guardrails - Bridge parapets - Telegraph or electricity poles - Fences - Trees - Gateposts - Walls

Mitigation:

It is recommended that the end of a guardrail facing oncoming cars should be protected by a large straw bale approximately 1 meter in front to give the bale space to move in the case of an impact.

Attention should be paid to the bolting of guardrail overlaps such that there is no exposed guardrail end, particularly when using the road in the opposite direction to normal traffic, and/or in high-speed sections. If the guardrail orientation is not correct, consider slowing the cars down, changing the route or, if you have the support of the local authorities, perhaps you can ask them to help you to rebuild the guardrails with the appropriate overlap for your event.

Similarly, placing a straw bale in front of the exposed end of a bridge parapet can provide enough absorption from an impact to protect the crew.

If the event runs on a narrow section of road, such that the addition of large round straw bales will narrow the route excessively, consider using square bales instead with the flat surface presented to the edge of the road. That way an out-of-control car will slide along it and hopefully continue.

Other energy absorbing devices such as stacks of tyres or plastic water filled barriers can also be used. If using tyre stacks, they should be linked to each other to create a connected system.

All these protection items must be in position or marked on the road when reconnaissance takes place so competitors can include them in their pace notes.

2. Early-Stage layout:

The first few kilometres of a stage is where the drivers build speed and confidence, that is why high-speed sections, static hazards alongside the road and long downhill sections need to be carefully analysed and, if possible, avoided.

Mitigation:

To reduce the risk, it is advised to create tyre warming zones, as described in the 2022 Rally Safety Guidelines and specified in the 2022 Regional Rally Sporting Regulations. Chicanes can be used to slow the speed of the cars in specific areas. Some standard chicane layouts are illustrated below:

Any such chicanes must be indicated in the roadbook and, if they are not already in place, marked on the road before the start of the recce.

3. T and Y shaped junctions:

T and Y shaped junctions commonly follow heavy braking zones, which can easily destabilize a car. Consequently, such junctions need careful consideration.

Mitigation:

To diminish the risk associated with junctions following heavy braking zones, chevrons must be used to remind the drivers of the stage direction with the dual purpose of closing off the road that is not being used.

The escape road or run-off area must be free of anything and anybody (including intervention vehicles, officials, and spectators).

If concrete barriers are used to close the roads, the position of these barriers also needs to be carefully considered to ensure they do not create a new hazard by themselves. Concrete barriers too close to the road or that block access to any escape roads or run-off areas should be avoided.

4. Surface degradation during the live stages:

Drivers cutting the inside of the corners can drag dirt and debris onto the route, making the road more difficult to drive for the following crews and especially for the second pass of a stage.

These evolving road surface conditions are not recorded in the co-driver pace notes, this makes it easier for a driver to be surprised by a low grip section and thus could be a source of risk.

Mitigation:

Anti-cut devices can be placed in specific corners that are expected to get dirty. Those anti-cut devices must be in-place on the road before the recce start to ensure they are well noted by the crews.

The most commonly used anti-cut device is a block and flag system, with the block made of concrete and the flag stick made of plastic. If straw bales are used, they must be wrapped securely in plastic film and a means of moving them rapidly back into position provided.

5. Water hazards:

Large bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, or the sea, are obvious water hazards. However, even shallow pools or small streams can be areas of significant risk when planning special stages. The risk of a car entering a water hazard unseen by a marshal cannot be ignored, and in the event the crew are trapped in the car it can have significant consequences.

Ideally, any planned route should avoid all water hazards throughout an event. It is recognised that this may not always be possible, and in such cases, precautions must be taken to ensure the associated risks are adequately managed. In general, stages run in darkness near water should be avoided.

Several factors need to be considered before organizing a stage near a water hazard:How close is the water hazard to the special stage?
Are there any natural obstacles that could prevent a competing car from reaching the water?
Are the competing cars approaching the adjacent area to water at high or low speed?
How deep is the water? Will the car be completely submerged if it ends up in the water? Will the helmet of the driver or co-driver be completely submerged if the car is upside down?
Will the size of the water hazard change dependent on weather conditions?

If it is not possible to manage a route that completely avoids waters hazards, then the organizer needs to assess If it possible to protect the area to stop cars reaching the water hazard.

Mitigation:

Earth banks and concrete barriers are examples of protections that could be planned to stop cars reaching a water hazard. For larger bodies of water, a boat and divers can be arranged and be on duty in that location throughout the running of the stage to effect a rescue should a car enter the water.

Conclusions:

We have highlighted some key points from the FIA Rally Safety Guidelines but strongly encourage you to read the full document and the other supporting information available on https://www.fia.com/rally-safety in order to plan and operate a safe and successful rally event.

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