Turn up pay and drive off road

T0ny B · Feb 20, 2011

Hi, Just bought my first 4 x 4 and am looking forward to getting involved with some off roading. But, I just read an article that said sites that have the public visiting, burger vans etc would probably be classed as public sites and come under the Road Traffic Act. This means, tax, MOT, insurance would be required and so my sons who are not insurred on the 4 x 4 couldn't drive it off road. I've no experience in this whatsoever and the magic and fun is a bit tarnished now - do I need to look for IOPD accredited sites? Help please.

IOPD = International Organisation of Professional Drivers

landy1uk · Feb 20, 2011

I use a Site that has a burger van and you can just go and watch, if you see some of the motors there they certinly do not have mot and all that
go youtube and type in Devil's pit
I done devils Pit in a mates series 3 that was not road legal
There is a white Disco there that looks like it went to Hell and back 10 times not a straight part on it

best bet is have a look at there web sites normally state on there

All that I know are on private grounds some sites state that they have to be roadlegal I think Yarwell at Peterbourgh have to be road legal

hth

paul_c · Feb 20, 2011

Can you scan in the article you read please?

G-man · Feb 20, 2011

some sites won't let under-age/unlicensed drivers drive as a matter of course as their public liability won't cover it, some will these normally don't have insurance on the site

T0ny B · Feb 20, 2011

paul_c said:
Can you scan in the article you read please?

It was in Land Rover Monthly March 2011 page 40 - can you get access to a copy?

paul_c · Feb 20, 2011

T0ny B said:
It was in Land Rover Monthly March 2011 page 40 - can you get access to a copy?

I don't buy the magazine, is it on the internet for free somewhere?

G-man · Feb 20, 2011

don't know what quality these are going to be.....

T0ny B · Feb 20, 2011

paul_c said:
I don't buy the magazine, is it on the internet for free somewhere?

If you go to www.lrm.co.uk you can go to the 'Try it now' button for a digital copy. The magazine picture that comes up has a box on the cover saying 'Inside' click this and you have a limited number of zooms available for reading on the screen.

paul_c · Feb 20, 2011

Thanks G-Man!

paul_c · Feb 20, 2011

Having read it, and been able to read the actual letter of the law, not some magazines erroneous interpretation of it, it only applies to the following 3 offences:

1. Causing death by reckless driving.
2. Reckless driving.
3. Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.

Basically, its saying that so long as the "event" is organised by one of the 11 official governing bodies, then you are immune from being prosecuted for one of the above 3 offences.

If the "event" isn't organised by one of the 11, then you're not immune from them 3, but you are from lots and lots of others because its not a public road (might be a public place, but its not a public road!)

They'd still have to 'prove' it was your reckless driving that killed someone in the first offence. And for the other 2, the driving standard would reflect the circumstances ie you were at a pay/play day, you'd not have to drive as you would on the public roads.

For example: if you were at a pay/play day and drove into a tree, or spun the wheels and dug yourself in, or skidded and ended up stuck, you'd no doubt be okay since this is what off roading's about; no doubt it could be extended to worse incidents where for example you might have been the driver of a car which hit a spectator, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was just being a bit daft, etc etc.

T0ny B · Feb 20, 2011

paul_c said:
Having read it, and been able to read the actual letter of the law, not some magazines erroneous interpretation of it, it only applies to the following 3 offences:

1. Causing death by reckless driving.
2. Reckless driving.
3. Careless, and inconsiderate, driving.

Basically, its saying that so long as the "event" is organised by one of the 11 official governing bodies, then you are immune from being prosecuted for one of the above 3 offences.

If the "event" isn't organised by one of the 11, then you're not immune from them 3, but you are from lots and lots of others because its not a public road (might be a public place, but its not a public road!)

They'd still have to 'prove' it was your reckless driving that killed someone in the first offence. And for the other 2, the driving standard would reflect the circumstances ie you were at a pay/play day, you'd not have to drive as you would on the public roads.

For example: if you were at a pay/play day and drove into a tree, or spun the wheels and dug yourself in, or skidded and ended up stuck, you'd no doubt be okay since this is what off roading's about; no doubt it could be extended to worse incidents where for example you might have been the driver of a car which hit a spectator, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was just being a bit daft, etc etc.

Thank you Paul, what you say makes good sense to me - tarnish mentioned in my initial message now gone. I found it interesting that you were able to find and read the letter of the law! Just come back from a very boggy off road event as a spectator - think I'll wait until weather is a bit dryer before having a go!

Turn up pay and drive off road

T0ny B

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