Safety
Also Worth Knowing
Security: a constant concern
The teams of the rally are especially careful when it comes to all the security questions, whether it concerns the protection of the spectators present on the side of the tracks or the competitors registered in the race or in assistance vehicles. Before the race starts, through information campaigns, and during the event where important sanitary measures are planned, the Dakar organisation has settled for several years a consistent plan of action.
For the 2009 edition, the security and risk prevention plan is developed in partnership with the Argentinean authorities and the Argentina Automobile Club on one side and with the Chilean authorities on the other. It is mainly by working on the location of risks and on adapting the means set up for the terrain that the exchange of information is the most efficient. In this domain, anticipation is the best ally for security.
An adapted and concerted plan
With the transfer of the Dakar to South America, the type of terrain, population density and the presence of different infrastructures must be taken into consideration in the definition of a safety plan. Areas for viewing certain special stages have been prepared for the spectators, most of whom are long-time racing fans, constitute a major innovation by the organizers. The Dakar teams have worked with the authorities of the countries visited on the subjects of accident prevention, speed control, exchange of information and deployment of means. Thanks to continuous cooperation, this plan will be operational throughout the race, in Argentina as well as in Chile.
Accident prevention
When the rally is scheduled to pass through a particular region, it will be preceded by a campaign providing information and promoting awareness. By reminding inhabitants of instructions to be followed and proper behavior during the race, safety messages have a good chance of being understood and adopted by spectators. For this reason, a video clip will be broadcast on television and on a number of Internet sites, along with an audio message for radio stations and a page of information to be published in local newspapers.
Speed control
Respect of currently enforced speed limits in the different countries on the linking and assistance routes is an absolute rule for all vehicles participating in the race, providing assistance or working for the organizers or the press. On certain portions, where driving conditions might be more difficult and where risk is potentially greater, the reconnaissance teams have established lower limits, which must imperatively be respected. The special routes also include areas that are susceptible to being more heavily traveled and are thus subject to this same rule.
The GPS found in each rally vehicle precisely records all instances of excess speed occurring over the entire route. The system is systematically checked on each vehicle by a team of twelve inspectors, who are present upon arrival at the bivouac. Those guilty of speeding will incur sanctions that can lead all the way to fines and exclusion from the rally, by way of a series of sports penalties (see the details on penalties in the race rules).
Speed verification will also be carried out by representatives of the Argentinian and Chilean police, who have been requested to be especially vigilant when the rally passes through their territory. In this case, infractions will be punished according to current national law (maximum 110 km/hr).
THE SEVEN GOLDEN RULES
1. Respect rules and safety instructions
2. Respect the driving code
3. Be extremely vigilant in populated areas
4. Assistance vehicles are in the rally, not in the race
5. Park in a way that avoids problems
6. Communicate non-indicated dangers
7. Drive slowly inside the bivouac
Highway safety patrols
A number of vehicles belonging to rally organizers and driven by safety professionals will be positioned at key places along the route, which will have been selected in collaboration with the police of Argentina and Chile. They will, for example, be responsible for alerting competitors to dangers that have not been indicated on the road-book and to physically signal the need to slow down on a frequently traveled sector.
In addition, a “safety” helicopter will verify the trail each morning before competition begins.
Spectator areas
The route of the Dakar 2009, which passes through more heavily populated territories than in previous years, welcomes spectators, especially those South Americans who love mechanical sports. The organizers have thus chosen to set up “spectator” areas for certain special stretches, which have been chosen for their accessibility, their interest and their capability to provide a safe viewing area for spectators.
The selection of these sites has been validated by the police in the regions concerned. The safety of these areas (set-up, markings, surveillance, flow management, etc.) will be ensured in the same spirit of collaboration. Highway safety patrols will provide reinforcement in these spectator areas.
In order to avoid a heavy influx and saturation of the spectator areas, the placement of these areas will be communicated, at each step, two days before the rally passes through the zone on the Dakar’s official Internet site, as well as published in the press.
SIX INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECTATORS
1. Respect markings that have been put in place
2. Do not cross the race route
3. Watch out for your children
4. Remain at a safe distance
5. Do not build fires
6. Pick up your trash
Race control center
All information concerning safety will be centralized at the race control center. Alerts can be received by means of flares set off by the competitors, through the Iritrack communication system (which allows locating competing vehicles in real time) or by the different radio channels used by the organization vehicles (in the air or on the ground).
Actions to be carried out in case of accident will be launched from the race control center, where representatives of the local authorities will always be present and ready to provide the necessary local rescue teams. The organizers have also planned on the availability of an extremely mobile medical service including three helicopters and ten medical cars. The field hospital will mobilize around thirty doctors, equipped with cutting-edge emergency material. For serious incidents, aerial evacuation to local hospitals will always be possible within a very short time.
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