TweetbeatIOM to support TT road safety campaign
The Isle of Man Constabulary – that’s the police to you and me – has announced that its social media channels will play a key role in efforts to promote road safety during this year’s TT Festival.
@TweetbeatIOM will help to keep Twitter followers up to date with important information such as road closures and traffic diversions. Using the hashtags #SafeSummerRidingIOM, #ShareTheRoadIOM and #IOMTT, it will also provide useful safety advice and guidance, as well as crime prevention tips.
The Manx police force’s digital presence will support the traditional TT poster campaign, which encourages people to take extra care on the Island’s roads during the two-week festival.
Striking images are used to portray the consequences of careless riding and to highlight the central message ‘For All Our Sakes, Slow Down’. One poster shows a badly damaged motorcycle in a wheelie bin, with the strapline ‘Don’t Bin It’, a play on the phrase used by bikers to describe a crash. Another depicts a biker travelling on the TT course above a photo of an injured rider heading home on foot, with the message ‘Biker to Foot Passenger.’
Posters will be displayed at ports in the UK and Ireland used by visiting fans and at prominent locations around the Isle of Man, including TT campsites and popular vantage points on the Mountain Course. Visitors can download general information from the Government website prior to travelling to the Island.
Members of the Roads Policing Unit and Road Safety Team will also be out and about during the TT to stress the importance of keeping speeds down, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and abiding by the central white lines. The campaign is targeted towards all road users and primary schools will be given a TT road safety worksheet to raise awareness among children.
A one-way system will again be in place on the Mountain Road in a bid to reduce the number of collisions and unmarked police vehicles will be deployed throughout the Island to enforce the rules of the road.
Home Affairs Minister Juan Watterson MHK said:
‘The significant increase in people and traffic makes the TT an extremely demanding time of year for 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. We want everybody to have fun, behave responsibly and remember TT 2015 for the quality of the racing and great atmosphere.’
Superintendent Kevin Willson added:
‘The use of social media strengthens our commitment to high-visibility policing and face-to-face communication during the TT. By integrating our Twitter account @TweetbeatIOM into the road safety campaign we can enhance the service we provide and help to protect vulnerable people.’
Visitors are also reminded that while the TT takes centre stage, everyday life continues in the Isle of Man, with people commuting to work and commercial vehicles out on the roads.
Gordon Edwards, Road Safety Manager, said:
‘Riders are encouraged to share the road responsibly and be aware that it’s business as usual for heavy goods vehicles making deliveries to local businesses. A brief lapse in concentration can have tragic consequences, so bikers should always ride to the conditions and adhere to speed limits. I would also urge fans to get to their favourite spectator spots well ahead of races getting under way. The roads are at their busiest – and the most collisions occur – in the “golden hour” immediately before the course closes. Our message to visitors is: ride well within your limits, obey the law, go home safely and come back and enjoy our beautiful Island again soon.’
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Links & Information
IoM TT website – www.iomtt.com
www.visitisleofman.com
Saturday 30th May 2015 – Friday 12th June 2015
PREPARE FOR THE TT LIKE THE PROS, SAYS JOHN McGUINNESS
TT legend John McGuinness, who has been competing in the event since 1996 and has the second most race wins in its history, has lent his support to TyreSafe’s message to fans loading their bikes up and heading to the Isle of Man this week.
“The detail we go into when we’re preparing the bike for a race is meticulous,” said McGuinness, who will this year be racing in his 19th Isle of Man TT. “We spend more time preparing the bikes than we do racing them. Everything has to be perfect and one missed detail can be the difference between winning and losing.
“Preparation is just as important for riders packing up to come and watch. When you’ve got panniers and pillion on your bike the way it will perform is going to change. The last thing you want is to have a drama on the way because you haven’t checked your tyres.”
TyreSafe has issued the following advice for fans travelling to the Isle of Man on their motorcycles.
If you are loading your motorcycle with luggage and pillion it is important to make sure the tyre pressure is correct as per the manufacturer’s recommendation
With increased weight the tyre can overheat, wear unevenly or even crack. This reduces tyre life, affects handling and fuel consumption
The correct pressure for your motorcycle can be found in the manufacturer’s handbook
Check your tyres’ visual condition, including tread depth, cracking of the tread or sidewall rubber, cuts, bulges or foreign objects
The legal minimum tread depth for motorcycles over 50cc is 1mm
If you spot a problem, or are unsure about anything, consult an expert before heading out
“John is a one of the most recognisable faces in TT racing,” added TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson. “It highlights the importance of our message that he has taken the time, this close to the start of the competition, to talk about tyre safety. As a professional rider, his experience of tyre performance and safety is extensive, and we are grateful to John for pointing out that proper safety preparation is important, regardless of whether you’re riding on a track or a public road.”
For more information, advice and guidance about tyre safety visit tyresafe.org