Rally racers crash a lot. Who pays for that?

[Slow_Moving_Vehicle]

Browsing on YouTube, I’ve found a form of auto racing that I actually find fun and interesting to watch: rally racing. Teams of crazed Europeans in souped-up hatchbacks, flying around twisty roads, making handbrake turns, catching air, and generally driving as if they are stunt doubles in a Bond film. Far more thrilling than watching mobile billboards making high-speed left turns for four hours.

But if the Internet is to be believed, rally drivers crash a lot, as well; YouTube is rife with videos of rally cars knocking down trees, smashing into buildings, and obliterating street signs and guard rails. Not to mention scaring the crap out of spectators, who are close enough to the cars to give a safety inspector hives and make a liability lawyer drool.

So how does that work? When a rally team takes out a row of vines or a power pole, who ponies up for the damage? The race organizers? The teams? Why do municipalities allow their streets to be shut down to put their street signs and buildings at risk? Do the spectators sign a waiver that says “Should you stand next to this road, you may be at risk of one and a half tons of high-velocity metal landing in your lap”? It’s fun as hell to watch, but I’m curious as to how it all works.

[russian_heel]

The property damage obviously is not paid by the drivers, their team or sponsors otherwise no one would agree to participate in the race.

Like all race highlights, the crashes take up a disproportionate percentage of what actually happened in the race.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Princhester]

As to property damage I can’t say though I suspect it would be covered by the insurers of the event organiser.

As to the insanely close spectators, this is a peculiarity of parts of Europe. Rallies in Australia, the UK and probable other jurisdictions would not permit it for obvious safety reasons. I suspect (but don’t know) that in the jurisdictions where it is permitted, the attitude of courts towards awarding damages to people who volunteer to take insane risks is rather different to what you or I would be used to.

[mixdenny]

@Princhester

As to the insanely close spectators, this is a peculiarity of parts of Europe. Rallies in Australia, the UK and probable other jurisdictions would not permit it for obvious safety reasons. I suspect (but don’t know) that in the jurisdictions where it is permitted, the attitude of courts towards awarding damages to people who volunteer to take insane risks is rather different to what you or I would be used to.

I think this is a big part of it. That is the thrill of being a spectator in those countries. A long time ago someone asked a leading driver what he would do if the crowd pressed too close and he swiped a bunch of them. He shrugged, “Turn on the wipers?”

Dennis

[Princhester]

Bet he was Scandinavian or German. Bone dry sense of humour

[bob_2]

Here is a typical waiver for competitors:

1. I understand and agree that, although I have been supplied with certain information on the prescribed rally
   course, the nature of the rally does not permit me to inspect the prescribed course or any portion of the
   prescribed course or the immediately adjacent areas thereof with which I may come in contact during the rally
   prior to my participation in the rally. I understand and agree that, if at any time, I feel anything to be UNSAFE, I
   will immediately take all necessary precautions to avoid the unsafe area and REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE
   further in the rally.

2. I understand that:
   a. Participation in the rally involves RISKS AND DANGERS, as does any roadway vehicular activity, of serious
   BODILY INJURY, including PERMANENT DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, AND DEATH (“RISKS”);
   b. The SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSSES and/or damages which could result form those risks COULD BE
   SEVERE;
   c. These risks and dangers may be caused by my own actions, or inactions, the actions or inactions o others,
   the rules of the rally, the condition and layout of the prescribed course, or THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE
   “RELEASEES” NAMED BELOW;
   d. There may be OTHER RISKS NOT KNOWN TO ME or that are not readily foreseeable at this time.

3. I ACCEPT SUCH RISKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE LOSSES AND/OR DAMAGES FOLLOWING
   SUCH INJURY, DISABILITY, PARALYSIS, OR DEATH, even if caused, in whole or in part, by the
   NEGLIGENCE OF THE “RELEASEES” NAMED BELOW.

4. I HEREBY DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE the promoters, participants, officials, car owners,
   drivers, crew members, rescue personnel, sponsors, advertisers, owners and lessees of premises used to
   conduct the EVENT(S), premises, and event inspectors, underwriters, consultants, and others who give
   recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the
   premises or EVENT(S) and each of them, their directors, officers, agents, and employees, all for the purposes
   herein referred to as “Releasees,” FROM ALL LIABILITY TO THE UNDERSIGNED, his personal
   representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL LOSS OR DAMAGE, AND ANY CLAIM OR
   DEMANDS THERE FORE ON ACCOUNT OF INJURY TO THE PERSON OR PROPERTY OR RESULTING IN
   DEATH OF THE UNDERSIGNED ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE EVENT(S), WHETHER CAUSED
   BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE.

As far as spectators are concerned, there are marshals and fences to keep them back, but it’s not like a circuit where you pay to watch - anyone can find a good spot and watch the lunatics fly past. In the end, it is up to you to keep out of danger.

[Slow_Moving_Vehicle]

@Princhester

As to property damage I can’t say though I suspect it would be covered by the insurers of the event organiser.

As to the insanely close spectators, this is a peculiarity of parts of Europe. Rallies in Australia, the UK and probable other jurisdictions would not permit it for obvious safety reasons. I suspect (but don’t know) that in the jurisdictions where it is permitted, the attitude of courts towards awarding damages to people who volunteer to take insane risks is rather different to what you or I would be used to.

@bob_2

Here is a typical waiver for competitors:
As far as spectators are concerned, there are marshals and fences to keep them back, but it’s not like a circuit where you pay to watch - anyone can find a good spot and watch the lunatics fly past. In the end, it is up to you to keep out of danger.

@bob_2

Here is a typical waiver for competitors:
As far as spectators are concerned, there are marshals and fences to keep them back, but it’s not like a circuit where you pay to watch - anyone can find a good spot and watch the lunatics fly past. In the end, it is up to you to keep out of danger.

Thanks for posting that. Most of the crash videos I’ve seen, where the spectators are close to the action, seem to be in Central Europe or Scandinavia, where I suspect Princhester is right about the attitudes to personal liability and personal risk (“Vhot ze hell, I already zmoke five packs of unfiltered Marlboros a day”). And I get that the drivers have to more or less sign away their lives to participate.

I just wonder about the farmer whose barn gets a new Ford Fiesta-shaped door; who pays for the repair? Sounds like the best guess is, the race organizers’ insurance companies.

[snfaulkner]

Look up old group B videos from the 80’s if you wanna see stupid crowds waaaaay too close to the action.

Also, nice username/post combo.