IOPD for event organisers and promoters
What does a legally recognised
Government Authorisation mean:
‘Authorisation’ allows people to be part of dangerous and
challenging situations; so they may enjoy the stimulation of
higher risk off-highway activities and allows them to drive
in a manner which otherwise may be deemed dangerous,
careless or inconsiderate.
The ‘authorisation’ process lays down rules and
regulations so that the risk to the public and those taking
part is minimised.
The Permit of Authorisation can be used pro-activity and
shown to Government Officials like Health & Safety
Inspectors to help build bridges so that a successful and
cost effective event is allowed to take place.
The Permit of Authorisation can be used pro-activity and
shown to the police or a Health & Safety Officer and be of
help if the event is unfortunate enough to have an incident
and medical assistance is needed. It can be used in the
defense against 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.
Because compensation can be left for insurers to settle,
insurance companies may start taking an increasing
consideration of organisers’ procedures and an unauthorised
organiser could be a greater risk of substantial
compensation claims.
AN IOPD Permit of Authorisation is
straightforward to administer and is great value offering:
A. Promoters, venue or event operators help with
• Cost-effective auto leisure events and activities
• Freedom for prosecution when running ‘challenging’ or
potentially hazardous events
• Established systems and regulations for operating non-road
legal motor vehicles
• Statutory legal documentation
• Monitoring and guidance for new legislation
• Reduced likelihood of claims
• Sourcing cost-effective insurance
• Clarification of professional relationships
• Peace of mind
• Potential for less time lost in dealing with problems
arising from any of the above
• A More professional operation from customers’,
competitors’ and regulators’ perspective
• More efficient, less costly and therefore a more
profitable operation
B. Venue Owners and Landowners, the IOPD brings you:
• Protection for errors or omissions by participants
• Insulation from prosecution for 'aiding and abetting' of
the most serious offences under the Road Traffic
Act, in stadiums, circuits, fields, private roads, or
private land
• Reduced likelihood of claims
For further information about how the need for
authorisation came about and how it can be enforced, please
click here.
Please also check the risk issues raised in the
FAQs page.
C. What do organisers of IOPD authorised events receive?
• Exemption from prosecution under sections 1, 2 and 3 of
the Road Traffic Act 1992. which includes the six most
serious motoring offences, which could lead to imprisonment
• Legal title to operate on a hired, leased or loaned site.
(The IOPD will provide event rules and regulations on
request)
• By special provision, annual 365-day authorisation for
events conducted frequently or at short notice.
• Certification and accreditation for all key officials,
providing all the IOPD criteria are met and varified.
• The IOPD Event Safety pack
• The IOPD Statutory Health and Safety Policy Statement
• The IOPD Statutory Health and Safety Risk Assessment
• The IOPD Health and Safety in Motorsport booklet
• IOPD assistance on a wide range of issues such as health &
safety inspections, accident reports, insurance, the law,
planning, public relations and environmental compliance.
• The IOPD ‘officially authorised’ stamp to use on
promotional and advertising literature relating to the
authorised event.
What is the IOPD?
A regime of safety to ensure legal conformity and
legitimisation
The International Organisation of Professional Drivers
provides Authorisation Permits to help ensure event
organisers, and promoters involved in any type of auto or
motorcycle leisure activity comply with the law and the 1991
Road Traffic Act in particular and thus helping to prevent
prosecution.
This affects ANY event to which the public has access and
involving ANY mechanically propelled vehicle, from
micro-bikes to monster trucks
The IOPD was established around 20 years ago to enable
responsible event organisers to conform to the new
regulations, which commenced from 1992. With the escalation
of vehicles used in what is seen by many to be anti-social
behaviour and the resultant dangers; today the IOPD’s role
has never been more relevant in contributing a regime of
safety to ensure legal conformity and legitimisation. In
fulfilling its role to its Affiliates, the IOPD can see the
way the wind is blowing on issues that are now getting
national focus. It is now becoming clearly evident that the
only exemption for organisers from the Road Traffic Act is
Permit Authorisation, in order to avoid conflicting with the
law and health & safety issues.
A mechanically propelled vehicle in public place
The term ‘Mechanically Propelled Vehicle' (MPV) encompass
all auto-related vehicles, whether they have one, two,
three, four, six, eight or any combination of wheels,
tracks, skids, skis and even jet thrust. A ‘public place’ is
defined by the Road Traffic Act as any place to which the
public can gain access (with or without admission charge)
including within a circuit, field or stadium, including all
places where the public are excluded, the infield or track
for example.
Remember also that the meaning of a road within the Road
Traffic Act is taken to mean “a definable way between two
points over which a vehicle could pass”.
The IOPD has seen a sea change, brought about by
mounting pressure from the law and health & safety, to a
diversity of auto and leisure activities
In 1991 things began to change for the organisers,
promoters and drivers at these events, with the introduction
of the Road Traffic Act of 1991 and the IOPD was established
as a voice for leisure, motorsport, arena and other
recreational events that use any kind of motor vehicle
activity.
In the intervening years there has been a gradual
increase in the enforcement of existing legislation, which
has increasingly been used against ‘rogue operators’, where
a serious incident has occurred, or where complaints have
been received. These enforcements have increased to the
extent that the majority of IOPD’s work involves the issuing
of Authorisation Permits to its Affiliates; because the IOPD
is also a Statutory Governing Body, authorised by the
Secretary of State, these Permits EXEMPT the IOPD Affiliates
from prosecution under the most serious sections of the Road
Traffic Act.
• IOPD is an Authorising Body for off-highway auto
related events, recognised by Act of Parliament by the
Department of Transport under the terms of Statutory
Instrument 1370 of the Road Traffic Act 1992
• IOPD is empowered by the statute to inspect, approve and
sanction off highway venues and issues authorising permits
under Road Traffic Act (RTA) legislation
This exempts participants and organisers from prosecution
for breaches of many of the sections of the Road Traffic
Acts applied in public places off-road and specifically for
dangerous, careless or reckless driving including causing
death by dangerous, careless or reckless driving.
IOPD may issue permits of authorisation to individuals,
partnerships, organising clubs, promoters, event organisers,
a company or a local authority, including a police authority
and provides advice, rules, regulations, codes of practice
and documentation covering all aspects of mechanically
propelled vehicles. We help enable you to make an event
happen and enhance your professionalism.
Better business for event
organisers
There’s mounting pressures facing motorsports and
auto-related leisure pursuits; from the law, health & safety
and environmental issues but also from venue owners and
insurers. The IOPD provides bespoke packages for event
organisers’ specific requirement for their type of activity.
Increased enforcement of existing
legislation, but can this be enforced?
It is being enforced; the Government is encouraging
enforcement using existing legislation. The current Road
Traffic Act covers any mechanically propelled vehicle –a
category that includes any vehicle capable of moving under
its own power. Likewise, it also covers any public place.
This includes open fields and private land as well as
permanent, purpose-built venues.
A nightmare? Not really, the solution is easy with IOPD,
and it’s the way forward. Long-term organisations following
this route are on their way to a more enduring and
profitable business providing social benefit and exciting
real-world stimulation and are distanced from the ‘cowboy
operators’ with poor safety standards.
The IOPD also assists with:
• Corporate manslaughter defence and coroners’ court reports
• Planning, noise abatement and other enforcement agencies’
issues
Do you need an Authorising Permit? Click here for
THE
CHECKLIST.
Or contact us on 01422 843651or complete the
on-line enquiry.
If you would like to receive a copy of one of the many
IOPD guides ‘A Guide to the Regulation of Off-road Events’,
or ‘What is an Authorisation Permit and When is it Needed?’
or ‘An Insurer’s Guide to the Regulation of off-road Event’,
please complete the on-line enquiry.
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