Jump to content

Road Traffic Act off-road


Recommended Posts

This is an extract from the safety regs of the big UK show:

 

10 M.P.H. Speed Limit

 

Is applied within the showground. No unauthorised moving of vehicles during events. Drivers are to obey instructions from Officials and their Assistants. No transference of fuels to be carried out. Under section 1, 2 and 3 as amended by the Road Traffic Act of 1991 you could be prosecuted for driving recklessly at this type of event.

 

Tracked Vehicle Movement

 

All movement through the site must be with at least one escort person on foot in front of the vehicle wearing high visibility attire. The 10 M.P.H. speed limits apply unless you are in the Arena where 25 M.P.H. applies. Do not enter the 20 ft crowd safety zone. All passengers to be seated in appropriate seats, not on vehicle turrets. Under section 1, 2 and 3 as amended by the Road Traffic Act of 1991 you could be prosecuted for driving recklessly at this type of event if it was considered you have endangered the lives of other exhibitors or members of the public.

 

Vehicle Movement

 

Vehicle movement is to be kept to a minimum. No vehicle movement is allowed in the trade stand area on show days between the hours of 8.00am and 6.30pm. There is also no vehicle movement in the pedestrian area at any time, unless part of an organised display pre-agreed with the Organiser. Only persons licensed to drive may operate vehicles. Children may not ride motorcycles, quads, etc. during the show days. All Entrants must abide by this. Emergencies excepted unless pre-arranged with the agreement of the Organisers.

 

Is this the sort of reference to the RTA the OP was thinking of??

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the point of the original question was not the arena nor the display area but getting the vehicle between the two.

 

I remember some years the HSE stepped in at the GDSF and prohibited the parade of horticultural implements that hitherto been a featured arena display because the parade had to cross areas that the public had access to despite the convoy being well marshalled.

 

A bit of layout design can allow roped off lanes from behind display arears to the arena. Trying to comply with every health and safety nuance and lawyer chasing oppertunity from the great unwashed is one of the reasons I stopped stewarding.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definition of a Road: ' A road/ highway. That is maintained wholly, or partly. At PUBLIC Expense'.

 

Definition of a Public Place: 'A Place where the Public have access. By Payment, or otherwise'.

 

As taught to Me a few years ago. When I was a serving Police officer, in a secondary career.....

 

It COULD be argued I suppose. That a roped off area is NOT a 'Public Place' as such. As it is clearly

Defined as a no entry feature. Due to it being roped off. I have found though, that this does not

Stop some people from using your area as a 'cut-through' on foot. To where they wish to go at times!.....

 

I haven't check my Mil Veh Insurance Policy lately. But seem to recall on at least one I had.

It also mentioned 'Off Road Cover'. Which I took to cover my vehicle at shows on grassed fields?.....

 

Now taking the two quotes above. This will no doubt add to comments on this thread? Not meant to

Stir things up at all. But food for thought, Yes?....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would that mean that under 'Right To Roam' almost any land is public access?

 

It's been a long time now HB. So I couldn't state with any accuracy, a reply to your question. Sorry.

 

A lot of laws have been repealed/ discontinued, in a trawl to 'Tidy up' outdated laws of old.

 

Most land is privately owned of course. & some areas do indeed have public right of way access footpaths.

BUT, straying FROM those footpaths can be classed as trespassing. A Map of any particular piece of land, lodged & at the land registry offices. Would give clarification as to the paths & official boundaries I would say.

 

You would have to do some in depth research to get clarification. On the 'Right to roam' Law (If it still exists in that form?)

I would advise, prior to embarking on crossing any land that does not belong to you. Just my thoughts ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Taking this to the extreme it would suggest that all vehicles in a museum should be taxed, MOT'd and insured, which can't possibly be sensible.

 

Andy

 

In my experience, those vehicles that actually operate are, where applicable. However in most national museums the majority are non operational and are moved about by handpower and other vehicles/plant (mostly handpower in my experience!).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Neil, I think your post regarding RTA 1991 has probably answered the question in that drivers cannot escape prosecution from reckless driving (or worse) just because they are not on a proper road, and this amendment closed an important loophole.

 

However I doubt that the RTA ever had in mind the goings on at MV shows or the types of vehicles we own, so I guess it is OK to drive those vehicles you see at shows that are 'part restored' that are not yet 'roadworthy' like those still in need of a body or cab.

 

And possibly the same situation applies I guess, for driving a tank in a public area at a vehicle show without an H License, as long as its not done recklessly. Though I am not sure about the legality of an underage person with no drivers license at all, being the driver of an AFV or the legality of driving while unfit through drink etc.

 

Also it matters little that friends and family are classed as public or participants, so if they are run over and killed in the night during a drunken AFV race, the drivers can be prosecuted with something more severe than reckless driving. At least I can sleep soundly in my tent knowing that!

Edited by LarryH57
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 5 months later...

Just to further complicate an already fuzzy area.....

If driving in an arena .....  an area where the public are excluded ........ the RTA does not apply.....  thats kind of fairly clear......

You may or may not be insured at that point ........  I have investigated a number of military insurance policies and more than one of the popular brokers is selling this policy.  It is underwritten by Lloyds too!!       

But specifically EXCLUDES arena events.  Any arena, any parade, however tame..... excluded.... no insurance.  Have a prang with another vehicle and you are not covered.  No fully comp... no third party......  if it caught fire and burned to the ground..... tough..... excluded!!!  Strangely this is not mentioned in their Policy Document.....   Sadly, until you need to claim.... you don't know......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...