Safety First on 4x4 Challenges

News of the accident at 4x4 Challenge Bhayangkara (Bhayangkara Offroad Challenge 2012) that killed and injured several spectators is shocking for all 4x4 enthusiasts. The event which was also attended by several participants from Sabah, Malaysia based on the report is a big 4x4 event in Batulicin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. We from Sabah, Malaysia would like to express our condolences to those affected. May their souls be blessed and their families to be given the patience and strength.

We hope that the event will be a lesson to our local 4x4 challenges and to put safety first as the top priority especially when dealing with the spectators.

Excerpted from http://www.dapurpacu.com/belajar-dari-penonton-tewas-di-offroad-nasional/: (Translated to English via Google)

JAKARTA (DP) - The case of the death of three spectators while watching the championship Bhayangkara International Extrema Offroad Competition 2012 (BIEOC) in Batulicin, Land of Spices, South Kalimantan, on Sunday (24/6), should be a lesson all of us, especially the organizers of the race offroad and offroader in the country.
As stated by former central board IOF (Indonesian Offroad Federation) Wijaya Kusuma to Dapurpacu.com. According to the former R & D and Safety Training IOF is the risk of an accident that claimed a man should be reduced.

"It's the lack of a safe zone for spectators and the track is too dangerous," said Wijaya, who is very concerned about the recall similar incidents have occurred this year in Padang, West Sumatra, and Semarang, Central Java.

Wijaya added that should the race committee should be firm to the spectators who violate the safe limit. "If the committee does not observe the movement of the audience, very dangerous accident might happen."

In addition, the professionalism factor an offroader is also a key off-road activities can be harmful to an audience or not. "We see cars sophisticated, but what the driver pro (professional)? That's the question, "continued the veteran of this offroader.

To that end, Wijaya assess any offroad competition needs to have a classification based on skill level of participants. "Let's open classes and non-seeded seeded," he said. Moreover, continued Wijaya, who was held Sunday BIEOC prizes are huge, reaching a total of Rp 1 billion.

"It should be a lesson that the big prize would encourage people determined to win."
IOF itself explain Wijaya has had regulations governing matters related offroad race, including crowd safety systems. Only in the case of the death of spectator at Batulicin, Wijaya suspect no one is able to handle these demands quality.

There's Always Possible Hazards

Meanwhile, the racing committee BIEOC INTL judge who asked the victim in the accident Batulicin difficult to avoid when facing the prevailing conditions such as last Sunday.

Syamsir denied when participants hit an offroader amateur crowd. "Not really. We know he often followed the offroad championship Djarum Super . So, he's not new to off-road, "said Syamsir, which is a national offroad dedengkot.
As reported previously, Haji Johan undergoing SCS numbers (special stage competition) 12, lost control of his car. Without being able to fly and land controlled by the car after beating the crowd of spectators in front of him. Three people were confirmed dead, while seven others were seriously injured and light.
Syamsir also rejected if the race track design does not meet safety standards. He claimed to have corrected the entire SCS is contested competition that deserves to be safe.
"Actually, he was hit after hit on the mound two meters before the finish line. The mound after the track was dropped. Most participants will reduce the speed at that point, because the technical point of braking is required in order to reach the finish right around the corner, "said Syamsir.

However Syamsir not argue that the fundamental cause of the accident lies in the emotional mastery level offroader. "The car used is very fast. Its specification cars rock crawling with maximum power to 600 hp. That car import, "he explained.
Moreover, Syamsir added, participants hit the audience is the start number 27 of 30 participants. "Twenty-six participants were previously able to apply it well. Therefore, I rate the overall design is no problem with the track. "
Further explained that the maximum speed of vehicles that can bulldoze the race track is about 20 km / h. "On average 10 km / h at a point ahead of the finish, but the maximum for the high-powered cars could be 20 km / h."
Aspects of the audience also been considered thoroughly by the committee. Syamsir explained, difficult to estimate the car to fly into the audience when using the standard normal fault movement.

"The position of the audience at a distance of five meters from the track. The guardians of the track most of Brimob. So we actually have very strict. "
"You know Kang Yus (Saifuloh)? Well, he also included the victim injury. Though not understand what about off-road? "Said Syamsir.

Even so, Syamsir still stressed the need for self-correction of the offroader. The pursuit of a prize in any competition must be done in high spirits, but still consider the safety aspects of the audience.

Syamsir explained, a professional offroader should understand all the risks that would arise for themselves and those around him. Scenarios to calculate the safety of the audience considered no less important.

As is known, Haji Johan is a drop in the number of participants "Eliminator Challenge." The number is provided exclusively for 60 offroader who are unable to pass the preliminary round of selection. In this number is also the committee has provided a gift.

For the class that provides two SCS BIEOC committee, namely 12 and 13 as the track competition. Of two trajectories, the committee divided the two groups, each consisting of 30 offroader.

Crash that killed son Saiful Suryawan, Anga Gunawan bin Dadang Sujana (South Kalimantan), and Karyawansyah (Central Kalimantan) occurred at 12:30 on SCS 12.
The committee will be responsible BIEOC admitted to the families of the victims. Even prize money of Rp 150 million will be handed over to the families of the victims as a form of concern.

BIEOC itself is a storied offroad international competition that was held for three days, from Friday to Sunday (22 to 24 June 2012). Some foreign offroader from Malaysia and the U.S. recorded following this championship.