FIA creates accident database

The FIA has set up a motorsport accident database that will collect data on crashes around the world to help safety developments in the future.

Motorsport's governing body is releasing access to its "World Accident Database" to 139 national motorsport governing bodies, following a two-year trial with eight nations. The national bodies will be able to populate the database with accident data from their own events, while also having access to information submitted from other countries.

"The introduction of the database will open up an opportunity for the world of motorsport to provide detailed information on any serious accidents that occur," FIA president Jean Todt said. "A significant number of the major safety improvements made throughout motorsport have been predicated by fatal or serious accidents.

"It is difficult to talk about a particular occurrence or a change in safety procedures and technology from a hypothetical point of view. It is an easier task to develop procedures and technology based on actual data."

Todt added the FIA's aim is not to attempt to prevent accidents from occurring – which he admits is unrealistic - but to minimise the safety risk when crashes do happen.

"You cannot remove accidents from motorsport," he said. "When you have multiple competitors on one circuit, drivers pushing the limit, as well as the mechanical side of the sport, accidents are unavoidable.

"The primary goal of the FIA is to minimize, as much as we possibly can, the harm that occurs as a result of accidents when they do happen."

Originally on Autosport.com