This always causes confusion.
To cover myself: if the MSA HAVE now stated that neck-braces are a good idea, I will happily say I am WRONG on this and, in that case, you should ignore me here! I MAY have missed some recent announcements!
Unless the MSA has made a recent statement on the matter and I haven't seen it yet, can you show any EVIDENCE (not guess work or approximation, or anecdotes) that ANY form of neck-brace helps save lives or injuries in karting? Please note, that's SPECIFICALLY about karts and NOT for race vehicles where the seat belt 'supports' the neck brace (e.g., F1 cars). It's also NOT about vehicles where part of the accident is about falling OFF the vehicle, e.g., motorcycles, etc..
The next question is, can you give any realistic reason why the MSA have NOT recommended neck-braces for EVERY karter if it was as obvious as some people would like to suggest that they are a GOOD idea?
Finally, if I am right (and I MAY be out of date, here), why do you feel it's something to recommend to your child when the MSA don't seem to want to recommend their use. Neck braces have been available for enough years for even the MSA to have got round to noticing them!
Over the years, VASTLY more karters have crashed when NOT wearing neck-braces and luckily VERY few have died or been seriously injured. I can't remember a single case where the coroner has said: 'if Johnny had been wearing an XYZ neck-brace, he'd have survived'.
Wear your neck brace if you want. Just be aware of the EVIDENCE.... or lack of it!
Finally, I usually get a whole collection of 'anecdotes' about this: e.g., "My Johnny crashed and would have broken his neck WITHOUT a neck brace". I have to reply: I have been driving karts for over 50 years and have had FAR too many crashes. I have NEVER worn a neck brace and I might want to make a similar (daft) claim that: "had I been wearing a neck-brace, I'd be dead". Please note, both such claims are plain DAFT as NEITHER is EVIDENCE about neck braces: they are ANECDOTES and prove NOTHING!!
Ian
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