The Australian Institute for Motor Sport Safety (AIMSS), a not-for-profit organisation, was established in 2007 and is the peak body for motorsport safety and related research in Australia.
AIMSS works in conjunction with Motorsport Australia in an advisory role and is a research partner of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) Institute for Motor Sport Safety and Sustainability to develop safety through research, education and industry liaison.
As a result of its partnership status with the FIA Institute, AIMSS works to disseminate safety breakthroughs, news and information from around the world to the Australian motorsport community.
Contributions to AIMSS help keep Australia at the forefront of motorsport safety – benefiting Motorsport Australia members and licence holders at all levels.
An Australian developed mobile app, Crashtag aims to change the way motorsport crash data is captured and analysed – ultimately improving safety at all levels of motorsport, from grassroots through to international events.
It is available for free on the Apple Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).
Users can easily upload information and photos of motorsport incidents and crashes. Crashtag will allow for detailed reporting live on the scene of a motorsport incident, which will have significant benefits to global safety research.
Event organisers will be able to use the app to simplify the reporting of crashes and major incidents. They will be able to more easily compile reports to Motorsport Australia following significant incidents, instead of spending time completing paper-based forms.
Watch the Crashtag Webinar
The AIMSS Research Rundown outlines a snapshot of projects AIMSS has been active in to date.
Accident Data Recorder (ADR)
This research program is part of a wider program commissioned by the FIA Institute. In Australia units are fitted to all V8 Supercars, the crash information from all cars from various FIA categories around the world are creating a bank of information that is of great importance in extending our knowledge of biomechanics and human tolerance to injury, influencing the design and regulation of safety equipment to ultimately benefit all Motorsport Australia licence holders.
Thermoregulation and Heat Stress in Motorsport
Research commissioned by AIMSS has studied the effects of heat, hydration and carbon monoxide on drivers and crews over two major motorsport events. Those studies have provided up to date research data to the FIA Institute, and contributed to the development of the useful hydration guide for Motorsport Australia members, known as ‘Clear to Steer’.
Crash Data Collection and Analysis
This study collated data drawn from routine Motorsport Australia incident and injury reports over a 12 month period. This is a fundamental step towards rational risk assessment and countermeasure identification to develop improved safety measures for Motorsport Australia licence holders, officials and spectators.
Restraint Harness Life
Research and testing commission by AIMSS, determined that for Motorsport Australia licence holders, (excluding international events) the validity period of your FIA approved restrain harness is extended from 5 to 10 years.
V8 Supercar Crash Test
Enhancing the safety of drivers through front and side impact testing of a full scale race car, allowing accurate data to be collated and a ‘bullet’ sled to be modelled and built from the results. This sled is already in use assessing impact outcomes and solutions, providing information for the FIA Institute in its ongoing pursuit of improved technical specifications for roll over and side intrusion protection systems.
Cockpit Head Protection
Implementation into the Motorsport Australia regulations of specification for roll cage padding to protect the head and arms of drivers during an accident.
Materials Degredation - Magnesium
Providing a guide for Motorsport Australia competitors and owners of Historic Racing regarding how magnesium components are affected by age and stress.
Additional Research Projects Under Consideration/Discussion
Topics include
- Driver Hearing & Protection Guide,
- the use and fitting of Head & Neck Restraints,
- Safety Equipment and Apparel, Competition Seat & Fuel Cell validity period extension,
- Review of Extrication and Egress practices for crashed closed cars,
- In-car air filtering options,
- Protective Clothing for Drivers,
- Materials Degradation studies,
- Non Flammable Paints & Resins,
- Flammable materials audit in Cockpits,
- Restraint Harness releasing when Inverted,
- The use of temporary road barriers for single release speed events,
- and Aging Competition Drivers’ Capability.
