A roll hoop is a U-shaped tubular steel safety device mounted behind the driver and passenger seats in convertibles and roadsters. It provides a reinforced structural high point designed to bear the weight of the vehicle and protect the occupants' heads if the car flips over. Unlike a full roll cage, hoops are localized structures that preserve the open-air aesthetic while meeting basic rollover safety standards.
Heard on the job
The tech inspector failed the track car because the roll hoop didn't clear the driver's helmet by at least two inches.
Also heard as
- roll bar
Do not mix it up with
- Roll cage: A roll hoop is a single bar behind the seats, while a roll cage is a full structural enclosure.