MSA OUTLINES NEW CONCUSSION RULINGS
The Motor Sports Association has outlined its new framework for safeguarding drivers that have suffered a concussion injury, with the worst affected set to be barred from competing until fully recovered.
The MSA began a study into a concussion directive last season, with its Motor Sports Council, Safety Advisory Panel and Medical Advisory Panel working closely with specialists from the Rugby Football Union to assess the need for new rules governing treatment of the injury.
The MSA has now issued a new set of guidelines, which restrict competition and activity for any drivers showing symptoms of concussion after an accident – the symptoms include confusion, amnesia, headache and dizziness.
The new rules state that any competitor diagnosed with concussion must not compete further in the meeting/event and that his/her licence be suspended and retained by the clerk of the course before being returned to the MSA’S Medical Department. From there competitors will have to obtain formal medical clearance from their GP before their licence will be returned and they can compete again.
The typical period of recovery is stated as between two to three weeks, meaning drivers with concussion face lengthy spells on the sidelines.
BTCC driver Andrew Jordan suffered a concussion during practice for Snetterton in 2014. He raced on Sunday, but withdrew after the second outing. He welcomed the new rules: “As a driver you don’t want to give up and that is what it would have felt like if I hadn’t raced on the Sunday after my crash. But given how I stood up to the racing, it was clear that something wasn’t right and I had pushed too far.
“The competitive instinct is always there and you want to get behind the wheel no matter what, but you have to take in to account the safety of others on the track. If you were to cause an accident and if it affected another driver, it would be awful.
“On balance, I think it is a good thing but I am sure the drivers will compain!”