After watching the documentary "Grand Prix - The Killer Years" I decided to research into what Sir Jackie Stewart OBE said about the state of the tracks in the 60s, and what was done to change it. Tracks set in the forest, such as Spa and Hockenheim, had limited barriers between the track and the trees; nothing was stopping drivers spinning off the track into the deadly woods ahead.
There was also a huge problem with fires, 9 times out of 10 the car would burst into flames after a crash, often fueled by the straw bales that were there to reduce the impact of the crash. Here is a short timeline highlighting the key events in securing safer tracks in Formula 1:
1970: Straw Bales are banned. Double crash barriers introduced, safety distance of 3 metres between fences and spectators. A wall between the pit lane and the track brought in.
1974: Circuit safety walls become mandatory. Catchfences + sand introduced.
1977: Gravel arrester beds defined.
1981: Tyre barriers introduced, pitlanes given a minimum width of 10m.
1985: Catchfences banned.
1989: Adjustments to the minimum requirements of safety walls and pit walls.
1992: Kerbs lowered, pit lane width extended to 12m.
1994: 27 high risk corners identified, 15 removed.
1996: High risk corners reduced to 2.
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