Several thousand visitors are expected to travel to the Island for the event, which gets under way on Saturday 20 August with the first practice session scheduled to start at 5.30pm.

The Roads Policing Unit and Road Safety Team are continuing one of the themes highlighted during this year’s TT Races to encourage people to act responsibly and stay safe.

‘The Force Is Behind You’ message alerts road users to the increased presence of unmarked police vehicles equipped with video cameras. Trained officers will be on patrol during the Festival of Motorcycling and will deal with the minority of people who persist in riding or driving dangerously.

The 2016 campaign encourages visiting and local bikers to respect the Manx roads and ride within their capabilities. A pocket-size leaflet stresses the importance of keeping speeds down, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and abiding by the central white lines. It also includes a full list of road closing times and a reminder that the Mountain Road remains two-way throughout the festival.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will be supporting the campaign by distributing the leaflets on sailings to the Island in the run up to the festival. The leaflets will also be available from police station counters, the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal and other information points.

Chief Inspector Steve Maddocks said:

 ‘We are committed to making the Island’s roads as safe as possible all year round and keeping the number of collisions to an absolute minimum. The Festival of Motorcycling is a busy period and we hope everyone will heed the campaign messages, stay safe and remember the event for the quality of the racing and the unique atmosphere. High-visibility police patrols will be supported by unmarked vehicles to enforce the rules of the road and to tackle offences such as excessive speeding, dangerous riding and drink-driving.’

Gordon Edwards, Road Safety Manager, added: 

‘Road users should take extra care to adjust to the festival environment and higher volume of traffic. Excessive speed is a factor in many collisions and people are urged to use their common sense on sections of road that have no upper speed limit. At the end of every straight is a bend, so we want riders to behave responsibly and not take unnecessary risks. Those who flout the law will be dealt with by the courts. Remember: a driving ban follows you home.’

The Isle of Man Constabulary’s social media channels will once again play an important part in the campaign to promote road safety during the Festival of Motorcycling.

@TweetbeatIOM will help to keep Twitter followers up to date with information such as road closures and traffic diversions. It will also provide useful safety advice and guidance, as well as crime prevention tips.

Dates and times of TT course road closures for the 2016 Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT practices, parades and races are available on the Roadwatch section of the Government website.