Should FIA enforce Zylon helmet strips?

[John S]

Or should drivers decide some personal risks for themselves?             
Lewis and Schumi still choose not to race with new bulletproof helmet visor, but just how much should FIA act like nanny over issues of personal safety? F1 drivers accept personal risk every time they get in a racecar so for me this one should be their choice, especially if the new visor may compromise vision because of tear off issues.

At least two F1 drivers are still refusing to update their helmets with the new feature designed in the wake of Felipe Massa’s 2009 head injury.

Last month at Suzuka, it was believed all the race drivers were wearing helmets fitted with a bulletproof Zylon strip across the top of their visors.

But because the strips add 50 grams of weight to the helmet, and affect the visor tint coatings and also the tear-off strips, it ultimately emerged that some drivers remained unwilling.

Indeed, Turun Sanomat reports that the zylon visor is not yet mandatory, despite most drivers now using it because it is safer.

"(Michael) Schumacher and (Lewis) Hamilton don’t use it because it saves them an extra 50 grams," said Japanese helmet manufacturer Arai’s Peter Burger.

"Perhaps with the g-forces it adds up to a bit more (than 50 grams)," he conceded.

He said world champion Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, does use the zylon strip.

"I had to carefully explain to him why to use something that is not actually compulsory," said Burger.

"It was supposed to become mandatory in Japan but the FIA only sent a letter to each driver strongly recommending that they use it."

Nextgen-auto.com, Today.

[Jericoke]

Goes with the idea that F1 drivers believe themselves to be indestructable.

I'm more surprised there are only two drivers who don't use the heavier visor than the 22 who do.

[Scott]

Not sure it's just about weight.  If it affects vision or the quality of the tear-offs, I would carefully weigh the pros and cons.