IOPD, International Organization of Professional Drivers

IOPD, International Organization of Professional Drivers

	Promoters & event organisers		EHOs' Guide
	The liberty of the individual		News & Views
	Insurers' Guide		Drivers' Area
	Effects of Road Traffic Act		FAQs
	Health & Safety Issues		Contacts, enquiries & links

Insurers' Guide

Why has an Authorising Permit now become so important?

The changes in legislation have not only affected show organisers, event coordinators, race officials and participants across the entire spectrum of events and leisure activities that involve ANY type of 'mechanically propelled vehicle'; but also insurance underwriters.

Under the Road Traffic Act, an event organiser, a race director or even the landowner can be prosecuted. As many events include driving that could be considered challenging and therefore dangerous if it were on the highway, then if the event were not authorised such driving would be unlawful.

Consequently, if there then occurred a serious incident resulting in notifiable injury or a fatality, the organiser could face a fine of up to £20,000 or a prison sentence. The IOPD Authorisation Permit puts events into the IOPD 'Safety Zone', enabling IOPD Affiliates to demonstrate good practice and providing exemption from prosecution for all those involved with events that are off the highway, and involve driving in a way that would be unlawful on the road. With a client affiliated to the IOPD, insurance underwriters can benchmark standards and resist claims of negligence.

Authorisation removes the illegality

'Authorisation' removes the illegality of placing people in a dangerous and challenging situation; so they may enjoy the stimulation of higher risk off-highway activities. The 'authorisation' process lays down rules and regulations so the risk to the public and those taking part is minimised.
In the event of an incident, if the police or a Health & Safety Officer were successful in bringing any charges, an unauthorised event could be more prone to charges of negligence or dereliction on the part of the operator and a liability for compensation may subsequently fall to the operator or his insurers to settle. Therefore insurance companies are taking an increasing consideration of organisers' authorised status. With some Insurers mandating a Authorisation Permit as a basic requirement, whilst others provide for Authorisation permits as part of a package of benefits to Clients.

For further information please contact the IOPD

Please also check the risk issues raised in the FAQs page.

For your copy of the 'Insurers' Guide to the Regulation of Off Road Events' please complete the form below.

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An IOPD representative may contact you via the email address or phone number you provide to discuss how IOPD can help with your needs.

The IOPD will not sell or rent any of your information to third parties and your information will be kept secure.

• For further details regarding legal precedent, please go to the liberty of the individual and 'Volenti Non Fit Injura'.

• Does this apply? Click here for THE CHECKLIST

• For further information about how the need for authorisation came about and how it can be enforced, please click here.

Safety First in the IOPD Safety Zone

IOPD Affiliates put their events into the IOPD 'Safety Zone':
• Organisers, officials and participants are exempt from the Road Traffic Act and the risk of prosecution.
• Access to an Audited Code of Practice for Health & Safety compliance and conformity to recognised standards.
• Enables activities to be held legally, authorised under the delegated powers of the Secretary of State.
• Incorporation in a professional regime of compliance that gives assurance to participants, organisers, spectators as well as insurers.
• A structure of training and qualification to meet the conditions being imposed more and more often by Planning Authorities, insurers and the law.
• An IOPD Affiliation is not about bureaucracy and barriers. It provides event organisers and promoters with a formalisation of their procedures with documentation and records. There are inspections as necessary and simple methods to ensure helpful compliance and to demonstrate that to statutory regulators.
• IOPD's aim is to help prevent incidents, however, if the worst should happen, IOPD can be commissioned to investigate and to provide an accident report for the Police or Coroner.
• The IOPD package puts its Affiliates where safety can be demonstrated to come first, whilst recognizing that risks cannot be totally eliminated and all attending the event share in the responsibility of placing themselves in the proximity of certain unavoidable risks.

As each case or situation may have many variables, this information is offered as general guidance only. For specific guidance, which is to be relied on, please engage an appropriate legal practitioner. © IOPD International Organisation of Professional Drivers. All rights reserved.