IOPD, International Organization of Professional Drivers

What is the IOPD?	Road Traffic Act and how it affects you	FAQ's
IOPD for event organisers and promoters	Health & Safety and Environmental Officers’ issues	The liberty of the individual
Click here for your copy of ‘Insurers Guide to the Regualtion of Off Road Events’	Click here for your copy of ‘Health & Safety and Environmental Officers’ Guidance to Off Road Events’	Contact and enquiry form

IOPD for event organisers and promoters

IOPD is an authorising body recognised by government. Its areas of special expertise include corporate events, speed events, exhibition stunt and power shows. This embraces all aspects of auto sport, motorcycle sport and related leisure activities.

Organisers of IOPD authorised events receive:

Exemption from prosecution under sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1992. (This includes the six most serious motoring offences, with mandatory penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment.)
Legal title to operate on a hired leased or loaned site.
Subject to IOPD scrutiny, approval of the organiser’s own event rules and regulations. (Or if requested, IOPD will provide event rules and regulations.)
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 and 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.
By special provision, annual 365-day authorisation for events conducted frequently or at short notice.

Certification and accreditation for all key officials.
It is of course, critical that event organisers are honest in their disclosures, follow the governing body regulations and established principals of good practice.

Background -how did the need for Authorisation come about?

A dramatic increase in dangerous behaviour…

In the late 1980s the Association of Chief Police Officers (APCO), under pressure from both the public and politicians, became increasingly concerned about the dramatic increase in reports of dangerous, careless and inconsiderate use of mechanically propelled vehicles in parks, on paths and in fields and other places including commercial venues, shows and the like to which the public were admitted either free or on payment of a fee.
Having evolved a very well tried and tested system of control fines and imprisonment under the Road Traffic Act for ‘on road’ use of vehicles, APCO advisors identified a very simple way forward. Take the 1988 Road Traffic Act and especially Sections 1, 2 and 3 covering dangerous, careless and inconsiderate driving and death by the same, change the words ‘public road’ to ‘public place’ and motor vehicle to cover any mechanically propelled vehicle (MPV) and ‘job done’.

Now anybody virtually anywhere driving or riding any mechanically propelled vehicle irresponsibly, or in a way that causes, or is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance, can be banged to rights by police prosecutions through the Magistrates Court system.

The Department of Transport then also decided that this would be an ideal chance to sort out all the un-regulated auto sports and leisure activities where the safety of the participants and spectators was not governed by an inspected industry set of standards. Their answer was to introduce the Off Road (Off Highway) Events Regulations at the same time and under the same amendment. Special Instrument 1370 was approved and became part of the 1991 Road Traffic Act on the 3rd June 1992.

Can this be enforced?

It is being enforced, and this is how. The government is handing down the enforcement using existing legislation. The current Road Traffic Act covers ANY mechanically propelled vehicle in ANY public place - in fact, virtually everywhere. The legal solution is easy with IOPD, and it’s the way forward. Long term, the organisations following this route are on their way to a more enduring and profitable business, distanced from the ‘cowboys’, providing social benefit and exciting real-world stimulation.

Justified? We’d say so…
An Authorisation Permit is necessary. Others Statutory Governing Bodies, including the MSA, can provide permits too. Others just provide for single marque car events for example. The IOPD provides bespoke packages for event organisers’ specific requirement for their type of activity.

Safety 1st in the IOPD ‘Safety Zone’

Becoming an IOPD Affiliate puts organisers and their events into the ‘Safety Zone’:

-Organisers, officials and participants are exempt from prosecution under the Road Traffic Act.

-Exemption from the requirements to register, MoT and 3rd party insurance for all vehicles.

-Audited code of practice for health & safety compliance and conformity to recognised standards.

-Affiliation to a professional body, rather than remaining alone and frequently remaining ill informed about emerging issues that are relevant to the business, IOPD Affiliates are empowered and kept informed about new developments that may affect their business, enabling them to respond accordingly.

-Enables legal activities to be held, which are authorised by the Secretary of State. All areas of the law that were previously ‘grey areas’ are now clarified: without a permit from a Statutory Governing Body such as the IOPD, such activity is illegal.

-A professional regime of compliance gives assurance to participants, organisers and insurers.

-The IOPD Affiliation is not all about bureaucracy and it’s not all about barriers, it’s providing event organisers and promoters with a formalisation for their procedures with documentation and records. There are inspections as necessary and simple methods to ensure compliance.

-If there is an incident, IOPD can investigate and provide an accident report for the police or coroner.

The IOPD package puts its Affiliates where safety can be demonstrated to come first.