Areas clearly defined and will be widely promoted to race spectators

Improvements in place conform to coroners inquest report

The 2008 TT Co-ordinating Committee today confirmed that the prohibited and restricted areas will be clearly marked with newly created, highly visible full colour signs. The signs, denoting Prohibited and Restricted Areas, and signs warning fans that Motorsport is dangerous, will appear around the course.

Adrian Earnshaw MHK, Minister for Tourism & Leisure, commented: “Regular visitors to the races will find relatively few changes to prohibited and restricted areas compared to last year’s TT. The course has been re-examined by the ACU to effectively and clearly redefine the areas so that there is no public confusion”.

He continued: “The new signage for the prohibited and restricted areas will leave members of the public in no doubt as to whether an area is prohibited or restricted. A proactive programme is in place to advise fans of the exact prohibited and restricted areas as defined by the road closure order. Fans must respect the areas and enjoy watching this year’s races safely and responsibly”.

Eddie Nelson, Clerk of the Course for the TT Races and ACU Representative commented: “We have carried out a comprehensive review of the TT course from a racing point of view and have redefined the prohibited and restricted areas around the course. These areas have to be continually reviewed given the developments with riders and machinery”.

In line with policy that has been in place since 1992, the owners and tenants of land adjacent to the course are covered for third party public liability by the ACU’s insurance. Eddie Nelson commented: “The ACU have Third Party Public Liability Insurance for all owners and tenants of land adjacent to the TT as has always been the case. There is a slight complication this year in that certain areas have been designated as prohibited or restricted”.

The landowners and tenants of all such areas are being advised of the situation and have been asked to confirm in writing their acceptance of the prohibited or restricted area as it affects their property.

Where the landowner and tenant agree to recognise the establishment of the prohibited or restricted area then there is no issue that might affect the insurance of the land involved.

However, where such agreement is not forthcoming the landowners and tenants are being advised to bring that situation to the attention of their own insurers in view of the possible implications should a racing accident occur on their land which under such circumstances is not covered by the ACU insurance.

The organising committee has also carried out a thorough review of TT working practices following last year’s TT and has been working towards implementing the recommendations in the coroners report following the incident at the 26th milestone at the 2007 TT races.