A series of hard-hitting images and messages will form the centrepiece of this year’s TT road safety campaign.
Ferry passengers arriving in Douglas will be greeted by the warnings: ‘Don’TT Cross The Line – Avoid That Fine’ and ‘It’s A Road – Not a Race Track.'
The campaign’s striking images are designed to encourage bikers to slow down, respect the roads and ride within their capabilities. Posters will be displayed at prominent locations around the Island, including TT campsites and popular vantage points on the Mountain Course, as well as in shops and community venues. Foreign language versions will be available for visiting fans.
A billboard at Ramsey Hairpin on the ascent to the Mountain Road will feature a picture of Lewis Clark who was fatally injured in 2015 following a collision with another visiting biker. It also shows the TT fan’s burnt-out motorcycle with the caption: ‘Will You Complete Your Lap? I Couldn’t Through No Fault Of My Own.’
The billboard supports the powerful video produced by the Isle of Man Constabulary and Lewis’s family urging riders to heed the lessons from the tragedy.
Efforts to promote the 2017 TT road safety campaign will begin long before fans set foot in the Isle of Man. Visitors travelling by ferry to the festival will receive important safety information thanks to the continuing partnership with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The main leaflet is designed as a tank bag map incorporating potentially life-saving advice.
Road safety officers will be on board busy sailings during practice week to speak to bikers, many of whom will be attending the TT for the first time.
Members of the Isle of Man Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit will also be out throughout the TT period to stress the importance of keeping speeds down, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and abiding by the central white lines. Unmarked police vehicles will be deployed to enforce the rules of the road, promoted by the slogan ‘The Force Is Behind You.’
The one-way system will again be in place on the Mountain Road in a bid to reduce the number of serious collisions. People are reminded not to rely on sat nav devices, which may not pick up the one-way system or temporary road closures.
The TT messages are targeted towards all road users and a TT road safety worksheet will be given to primary school children as part of the campaign.
Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey MHK said: ‘The significant increase in people and traffic makes the TT an extremely demanding time of year for the Department’s frontline services. The wellbeing of residents and visitors is of paramount importance and a lot of planning goes into the event to make it as safe and enjoyable as possible.’
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Kevin Willson added: ‘High-visibility police patrols will be supported by a strong digital media presence. The festival is one of the greatest spectacles on the sporting calendar and we want everybody to have fun, behave responsibly and remember TT 2017 for the quality of the racing and great atmosphere.’
The public is also reminded that while the TT takes centre stage for two weeks, everyday life continues in the Isle of Man, with people commuting to work and commercial vehicles out on the roads.
