The Head and Neck Support or Hans device is a safety device used by racing drivers.
The device is worn on the driver's shoulders (as Nico Rosberg demonstrates, above). A vertical projection at the rear carries two tethers which are fixed to the driver's helmet. In a collision the tethers prevent the helmet moving forwards too far, which can cause serious neck injuries.
The Hans device was made mandatory in Formula 1 in 2003 and is commonly used in many other racing categories.
