A HANS device (Head and Neck Support device), also known as a head restraint, is a safety item compulsory in many car racing sports. It reduces the likelihood of head and/or neck injuries, such as a basilar skull fracture, in the event of a crash.
Primarily made of carbon-fiber, the HANS device is shaped like a U, but with the back of that U set behind the nape of the neck and the two arms lying flat along the top of the chest over the pectoral muscles. The device, in general, is supported by the shoulders. It only is attached to the helmet, and not to the belts, the driver's body, or the seat; the helmet is attached to the device with the help of two anchors on each side, much like the Hutchens device but placed slightly back. In a properly installed 5 to 6-point racing harness, the belts that cross the driver's upper body directly pass over the HANS device on the driver's shoulders and they buckle at the center of the driver's abdomen. Therefore, the HANS device is secured with the body of the driver, not the seat.