Government Response: The Government notes that the majority of respondents were in favour of the Motor Sports Association and the Auto Cycle Union being the Authorising Authorities for any motor sport events on public roads in England. They are responsible for accrediting vehicles, drivers and events and have many decades of experience of governing and authorising motor sport in the UK and, in the case of the Motor Sport Association, already authorise those motor competitions on public roads in Great Britain which do not involve racing or trials of speed. We propose that the appointment of bodies that may authorise the holding of competitions on the highway should be by regulations made by the Secretary of State, in a similar way to the current regulations appointing authorising bodies for both off-road and on-road competitions and events. We will take into account the respondents’ views when drafting the Regulations naming the authorising bodies. Following devolution, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government are responsible for the function of authorising both on-road and off-road motor sport events in their countries and any new legislation will need to enable the national Governments to regulate to appoint their Ministers to be the authorising body for motorsport events in their countries. A number of respondents commented that local highway authorities (referred to here as traffic authorities) should be appointed as authorising authority. The government recognises that local traffic authorities have the statutory responsibility for most roads in their areas, and that the decision whether or not to close a road or roads for a motorsport event must be for them. But the government recognises that the Motor Sports Association and the Auto Cycle Union have the experience, together with the knowledge and resources, in authorising events and proposes that they should be the authorising bodies. It is for the organisers of an event to approach the local traffic authority if they wish to hold a motor sport event on a closed road; but if the traffic authority considers that the road should not be closed then the event would not be able to be held in that form. It would be open for a traffic authority to constitute a safety advisory and licensing group to consider the issue. Question 5 Question 5 you agree that the Sports Ground Safety Authority could provide “Do valuable expertise and guidance to ensure motor sport events on roads can be delivered safely?”
Government Response: The Government notes that the majority of respondents were in favour of the Motor Sports Association and the Auto Cycle Union being the Authorising Authorities for any motor sport events on public roads in England. They are responsible for accrediting vehicles, drivers and events and have many decades of experience of governing and authorising motor sport in the UK and, in the case of the Motor Sport Association, already authorise those motor competitions on public roads in Great Britain which do not involve racing or trials of speed. We propose that the appointment of bodies that may authorise the holding of competitions on the highway should be by regulations made by the Secretary of State, in a similar way to the current regulations appointing authorising bodies for both off-road and on-road competitions and events. We will take into account the respondents’ views when drafting the Regulations naming the authorising bodies. Following devolution, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government are responsible for the function of authorising both on-road and off-road motor sport events in their countries and any new legislation will need to enable the national Governments to regulate to appoint their Ministers to be the authorising body for motorsport events in their countries. A number of respondents commented that local highway authorities (referred to here as traffic authorities) should be appointed as authorising authority. The government recognises that local traffic authorities have the statutory responsibility for most roads in their areas, and that the decision whether or not to close a road or roads for a motorsport event must be for them. But the government recognises that the Motor Sports Association and the Auto Cycle Union have the experience, together with the knowledge and resources, in authorising events and proposes that they should be the authorising bodies. It is for the organisers of an event to approach the local traffic authority if they wish to hold a motor sport event on a closed road; but if the traffic authority considers that the road should not be closed then the event would not be able to be held in that form. It would be open for a traffic authority to constitute a safety advisory and licensing group to consider the issue. Question 5 Question 5 “Do you agree that the Sports Ground Safety Authority could provide valuable expertise and guidance to ensure motor sport events on roads can be delivered safely?”
Motorsports_Consultation_Response_FINAL.DOCX