safety car

American  

noun

Nautical.

1. life car.

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Etymology

Origin of safety car

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

But he stayed out until lap 24, stopping just before a virtual safety car caused by Carlos Sainz's Williams stopping on the pit straight.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

The race was then red-flagged because of the track breaking up at the corner where not only Leclerc had lost control but also Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, whose incident had caused the first safety car.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

Hadjar drove an excellent race battling power-unit problems and was helped by a masterstroke from Red Bull in not stopping under the first safety car, which gained him positions on Russell and Piastri.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

And in Japan, Mercedes felt he was on track to take the lead regardless of the safety car, such was his pace on medium tyres once in clear air.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Each day in the week would have its special work: Monday would be beach drill, practising with the firing gun and line and the safety car.

From Tides of Barnegat by Smith, Francis Hopkinson