Which is statistically safer per-mile: track days or street driving? | FerrariChat
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Which is statistically safer per-mile: track days or street driving?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by dreamcarswest, Jun 3, 2012.

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  1. dreamcarswest

    dreamcarswest Karting

    Apr 4, 2007
    162
    #1 dreamcarswest, Jun 3, 2012
    Got to thinking about this today - is there any data out there that people know of? I've done my share of track days and seen some accidents, but I've seen a lot more on the streets. On the track we push our limits - but we're all paying attention. On the street we (most of us) drive more conservatively, but you have to contend with thousands of other cars, many of whose pilots are distracted.

    So I wonder which has more accidents per mile driven - tracks or street?

    I was also thinking about this because I really want to take my 355 Spider to a track day, but it has the rollover protection issue. But if you think about that - why do we view convertibles as unacceptably dangerous on the track without rollover protection, but acceptably safe for street driving, where accidents can happen also?
     
  2. dreamcarswest

    dreamcarswest Karting

    Apr 4, 2007
    162
    #2 dreamcarswest, Jun 3, 2012
    what a moron - i didn't see the tracking/driver ed subforum - mods please move my thread, sorry.
     
  3. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
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    Bill Tracy
    #3 BT, Jun 3, 2012
    I would be shocked if track day mileage is not many times more likely to have a crash than everyday driving. It is pretty rare to go to the track and not see someone have an incident. It is pretty rare for smeone to die, but not uncommon for an injury to occur.

    :)
    BT
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #4 SrfCity, Jun 3, 2012
    Any time you're pushing the limits you run more risk, track or street.
     
  5. davem

    davem F1 World Champ
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    Jan 21, 2002
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    dave m
    #5 davem, Jun 3, 2012
    Like Bill said accidents at track days are very common. Have had friends in very serious accidents on track too. In both cases what saved them was 6pt harness, roll cages and Hans device. These were hardtops too.

    Driving on a highway you could come across thousands of cars in an hour in both directions. Track day maybe 40-70 cars all day??

    You want to drive fast at an FCA event.....go for it. But i wouldn't push it.
     
  6. dreamcarswest

    dreamcarswest Karting

    Apr 4, 2007
    162
    #6 dreamcarswest, Jun 3, 2012
    I suppose the stats would break down differently by run group and passing rules as well. In my 355 I wouldn't push it at all - it would just be nice to have it on a track once and say I did it.

    I have a 360 spider with roll hoops that i suppose would be a better choice for the track but the 360's have always felt twitchy to me at the limit - unlike the 355 and my very old E36 M3, which both feel quite controllable and predictable at the limit as they break traction - which for an amateur driver with limited skills like me is more fun :)
     
  7. Mitch Alsup

    Mitch Alsup F1 Veteran

    Nov 4, 2003
    9,724
    #7 Mitch Alsup, Jun 3, 2012
    Accidents per mile:: track much greater than street.
    Severity of crash:: track much greater than street.
    Liklihood of death:: street much greater than track.

    At the track:
    A) all the cars are going in the same direction.
    B) if you need to leave the track the is little to hit.
    C) if you wreck the ambulance is 30 secondds away rather than 30 minutes away.
     

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