Roll Cage, Roll Bar & Roll Hoops

Roll cages are often used in professional rally cars.

A roll cage is a specially constructed frame built around the cab of a vehicle to protect the driver from being injured in an accident, particularly in the event of a rollover. Roll cages extend in front of the driver, next to the A-pillar, to provide as much high-speed protection as possible in a coupe. This is compared to the protection provided in open wheel racing, where a solid shell encases the majority of the driver’s body in addition to a rollover hoop that extends over the driver’s helmet. A roll cage can also do a great deal to stiffen the chassis, which is desirable in racing applications.

Roll bar on an Esther.

A roll bar is a single bar behind the driver that provides moderate rollover protection. A targa top is a body style that integrates an externally-visible roll bar that a semi-convertible top attaches to. Convertibles have particular safety concerns for rollover protection. In most modern convertibles a strong windscreen frame acts as a roll bar.

Roll hoops on an Audi TT.

Roll hoops are essentially two roll bars, one behind the driver and one behind the passenger. Sometimes just a single roll hoop behind the driver is used. Sometimes they are integrated into the design of the body.