IOPD, International Organization of Professional Drivers

IOPD, International Organization of Professional Drivers

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Health & Safety and Environmental Officers' Guidance to Off Road Events

For Regulators, Enforcement Officers, Event Safety Advisory Groups, and Police Designated Safety Inspectors; IOPD Affiliation means:

• Consistency of procedures and understandings
• Demonstration of commitment by both venues and operators
• Structure for non-confrontational 'box ticking'
• Avoidance of ‘someone else's problem' (SEP)
• Clearly defined safety standards

Environmental Health Officers want to ensure consistency of enforcement and regional Motor Sport Safety forums and event safety advisory groups have been formed. Typically, these have representation from the Chief Environmental Officer for the region, Chief Fire & Rescue Officer, Chief of Police officer/event safety officer/or deputies and regionally respected independent consultants. Typically, they are requiring what IOPD is providing and promoting.

Environmental Health Officers’ guide

If you would like to receive a copy of ‘Health & Safety and Environmental Officers Guide to Off-road Events’, please get in touch.

What is the IOPD?

The IOPD is a Statutory Authorising Body, sometimes termed ‘Governing Body’, for activities and sports involving any mechanically propelled vehicles, off-the-highway. The IOPD is authorised by the secretary of State for the Regulation of off highway auto events.

The legal status of the IOPD is: “Authorised by the Secretary of State under Statutory Instrument 1371, IOPD is recognised an Authorising Bodies under Statutory Instrument 1370 of the Road Traffic Act Regulations 1992 & 1995.”

Due to the widely differing auto leisure activities affiliated to the IOPD, the organisation produced the ‘Off Road 1992 Events Regulation Discussion Document’. This clarified the new legislation, the commonly agreed interpretations and consensus of understanding of how the legislation would be implemented. The document was widely acclaimed by Chief Police Officers who circulated it to others. Today, police authorities and Environmental Health Officers are finding the latest version of the guide accurate, informative, well researched and continue to forward this to other interested parties, it has become the authoritative manual. If you would like a copy of the ‘Guide to the Regulation of Off-road Events’, please get in touch. (link)

When the system for authorisation was first devised, the Ministry of Transport asked the IOPD (originally formed to be the representative and governing body for stunt riding and driving, drag racing and other straight line and arena activities) to oversee commercial events and the relatively unorganised amateur activities and sports that were not already members of the MSA, the ACU or the other non-commercial or club-based bodies.

As a result, for over two decades, the IOPD has developed considerable experience in setting the standards and authorising events and venues against those standards; and currently authorise some 30 different types of auto leisure activities on some 15,000 days per year.

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

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

Authorisation removes the illegality

‘Authorisation’ in the form of a Permit from a Governing Body such as the IOPD, removes the illegality of placing people in a dangerous and challenging situation so that they may enjoy the stimulation of authorised but sometimes increased risk off-highway activities.

Authorisation Permits document a system that recognises the possibility that dangerous and careless driving may occur at auto events (and even the possibility of death by dangerous or careless driving) and exempts those involved from prosecution under the Road Traffic Acts on the agreement that the risks were entered into knowingly by all concerned.

Authorisation ensures that all concerned are aware of the risks and contract to assume responsibility for themselves and their charges.

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.