Why does flagman wear helmet ?

With as far as this sport has advanced in safety, I'm surprised that the flagman/flagwoman still exists. There could easily just be a giant box with lights that signify race conditions (green, caution, move over, black, red). Not saying I would prefer this to happen, but I would rather prevent something bad happening to the flagperson rather than making these changes after the fact.
 
RacerrecaR said:
With as far as this sport has advanced in safety, I'm surprised that the flagman/flagwoman still exists. There could easily just be a giant box with lights that signify race conditions (green, caution, move over, black, red). Not saying I would prefer this to happen, but I would rather prevent something bad happening to the flagperson rather than making these changes after the fact.
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100% agree. Amazed we still have a flagman and amazed pit road officials were out there for so long.
 
The flagman wears a helmet because it is physician ordered. His head is flat on one side and the docs want to correct it before it's too late.
 
RacerrecaR said:
With as far as this sport has advanced in safety, I'm surprised that the flagman/flagwoman still exists. There could easily just be a giant box with lights that signify race conditions (green, caution, move over, black, red). Not saying I would prefer this to happen, but I would rather prevent something bad happening to the flagperson rather than making these changes after the fact.
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Interesting subject I never really thought about before.

He or she does not determine when to bring out the yellow or green; he's told to do so via radio. Besides a big LED screen on the stand, lights on the dashboard could be used. A screen on the stand would also make it easier to show car numbers when one is black-flagged.

Maybe so there's someone to pass the checkered flag through the fence to the winner? Beats me; maybe the time has come to retire this position. Hey, if the catch-can man can be eliminated...
 
This sport is a, 'what if', split second away from tragedy each and every week in some area or another. Probably just me but I can't think of a single incident where the flagman sustained an injury during the race. It's probably happened. I just can't think of one. I can think of several times that fans have been injured though. Maybe that would be a good place to concentrate on?
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
This sport is a, 'what if', split second away from tragedy each and every week in some area or another. Probably just me but I can't think of a single incident where the flagman sustained an injury during the race. It's probably happened. I just can't think of one. I can think of several times that fans have been injured though. Maybe that would be a good place to concentrate on?
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Jayski: "ESPN reports NASCAR to require fan helmets at Daytona, 'Dega in 2017.

UPDATE 1: ESPN also confirms fan helmets will be optional at other tracks in 2017, mandatory at all in 2018.

UPDATE 2: Tony Stewart fined $25,000 for saying helmets should have been required for fans years ago, and that fan helmets should be 'full head' only and not 'open face'. Drivers' council agrees to pay fine.

UPDATE 3: Sports Illustrated reports fans required to wear HANS devices in 2020. All tracks?

UPDATE 4: Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced it will be installing SAFER barriers at the bottom of all stairways and handicapped ramps.

UPDATE 5: Tony Stewart fined $50,000 for saying large sections of Daytona grandstands lack SAFER. During Stewart's expected appeals, driver council will pay for his lunch and parking."
 

Because crazy things can happen anywhere. Check out the 35 second mark and watch to the end.
 
I don't know about anyone else, but I've been hit by small pieces of rubber and they HURT.
Yes, flagstands are tall, but those pieces can really fly high --- especially when the tire explodes.
 
The flag man at the local road corse was killed a few years back and he was on an elevated stand.
 
They might have there communication systems built in so as to be able to hear properly
 
The flagman's job is not just to start and finish the race. He also indicates when slower cars are about to be caught by the leaders with the blue yellow flag. He indicates when the race is half over by crossing flags. He indicates who is being black flagged etc. Now all of these things can be sent over the radio to the driver but not all tracks can afford the Raceiver systems and they would have to have several hundred on hand for bigger races. For Nascar you could certainly do away with the flagman but honestly it wouldn't feel the same.
 
LARRY said:
The flag man at the local road corse was killed a few years back and he was on an elevated stand.
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I had a friend many years ago get his head knocked off at a race by an errant tire . Crazy things happen.
 
Allison-Crash.jpg


@sdj this is a tad scarier.
 
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To keep himself from being hit by flying beer cans when KB dominates a race
 
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