The image of a visiting biker who was fatally injured in a collision on the Mountain Road provides the focus for this year’s Festival of Motorcycling road safety campaign.
Lewis Clark, who died during the 2015 event, features on a billboard at Ramsey Hairpin and in a pocket-sized information leaflet that includes road closure times and helpful advice.
The hard-hitting message shows the young biker’s burnt-out motorcycle with the caption: ‘Will You Complete Your Lap? I Couldn’t Through No Fault Of My Own.’
The billboard and leaflet support the video produced by the Isle of Man Constabulary and Lewis’s family urging riders to heed the lessons from the tragedy.
Several thousand visitors are expected to travel to the Isle of Man for the popular Festival, which gets under way with the first practice session during the evening of Saturday 19 August.
The Isle of Man Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit and Road Safety Team are refreshing some of the themes highlighted during this year’s TT Races to encourage people to act responsibly and stay safe.
‘The Force Is Around You’ message alerts road users to the increased presence of marked and covert police vehicles equipped with video cameras. Trained officers will be on patrol and will deal with the minority of people who persist in riding or driving dangerously.
Efforts have been stepped up to highlight safety messages to the increasing number of visitors from Europe, with the publication of speed conversion charts and ‘keep left’ stickers in five different languages.
Road safety officers will also be on board the busiest Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ferry sailings during practice week to speak to bikers and distribute helpful information.
As the countdown continues towards the 2017 Festival, people are reminded that the Mountain Road remains open to two-way traffic outside of race periods. For safety reasons, cycling will be prohibited this year between Ramsey Hairpin and the Creg ny Baa Back Road from 9:30am on Friday 18 August until 4:30pm on Monday 4 September.
Road users are also urged to take notice of a speed limit at the exit to the Wildlife Park and be aware of highway improvements at The Bungalow.
Members of the Roads Policing Unit will be out throughout the Festival to stress the importance of keeping speeds down, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and abiding by the central white lines.
Home Affairs Minister Bill Malarkey MHK said: ‘The Festival of Motorcycling is a busy period and we want everyone to heed the campaign messages, enjoy the racing and stay safe. Speeding and dangerous riding will not be tolerated and those who break the law can expect to be dealt with by the courts.’
The Isle of Man Constabulary’s social media channels will once again play a key role in efforts to promote road safety during the Festival of Motorcycling.
@TweetbeatIOM will help to keep Twitter followers up to date with important information such as road closures and traffic diversions.
