Scots rally chief backs safety proposals 07 | 10 | 2014

    FOUR MONTHS AFTER the triple fatality in the Jim Clark Rally, and three days before the start of the Tunnock's Mull Rally, the initial proposals of the Scottish Government's Motor Sport Safety Review have been released.

    And the opening details, announced by Cabinet Secretary for Sport Shona Robison, and which focus on keeping motorsport spectators safe in Scotland, was welcomed by Iain Campbell.

    Inverness-based Campbell, who is a member of the safety review group — which also included Sir Jackie Stewart — has established himself as one of the leading organisers of rallies across the UK.

    In addition to being Clerk of the Course for the three RallyScotland Intercontinental Rally Championship events in 2009-11, Campbell holds the same overall organising role for this weekend's Mull Rally.

    The three-day event — which starts on Friday (Oct 10), and covers 150 competitive miles on the Inner Hebridean island — is the first in Scotland to be held on closed-off public roads since the Jim Clark on May 31.

    "All the meetings — there have been three since the Review Panel was conceived in July — have been positive as it has been recognised that the sport is well regulated, generally has a good safety record and a low number of incidents," Campbell said today.

    "Unfortunately, understandably the recent incidents that have taken place have had a high impact.  

    "For Mull we haven’t changed our approach towards planning, but it has certainly focussed our concentration on certain areas.  

    "Our marshals on the event are all acutely aware of the focus on spectator safety and we have dedicated a lot of time to getting the message out through as many channels as we can, to as many prospective spectators as we can.

    " A lot it comes down to having a sensible approach and appreciating that you are attending a speed event."

    Among the initial proposals highlighted by the safety review group are:

    • For each rally, an independent safety delegate should be responsible for the safety of staff, volunteers and spectators;

    • Both an event spectator safety officer and an event safety car should be used at multi-venue stage rallies;

    • Further consideration of improvements to training for rally marshals;

    • Improve safety messages given to the public;

    • Better ensure and promote the safety of media attending rallies.

    As part of the bid to increase better safety awareness among those spectating the Tunnock's Mull Rally, Campbell, in conjunction with FiveStageMedia, filmed a safety video with the winners of last year's event, Mull's John MacCrone (pictured) and Stuart Loudon from Uddingston.

    "It was done in a pretty light-hearted way, but it has a serious message contained within it," Campbell explained. "Though no one likes being told what to do, we chose to do it in a fun way, with the right tone of humour, and thankfully it's been universally well received."

    Another initiative by Campbell's team is the creation of a temporary intensive care unit with ICU nurses and trauma consultants at Craignure & Iona Community Hospital on Mull.

    "The ICU unit at Craignure is something that is very Mull-specific due to it being a ‘small’ island off the west coast of Scotland," he continued  

    "The work that our chief medical officer, Ben Shippey, has done to get this facility is fabulous. And its a boost to everyone on the island, not just the rally folk."

    Earlier, Robison had revealed the initial proposals, saying: “The tragic events at the Jim Clark rally, and at the Highland Snowman rally in 2013 where a spectator was also killed, brought the safety of spectators at motor sport events into the spotlight.

    "Safety is absolutely integral to staging successful and enjoyable sporting events and all partners need to move forward together to keep people safe.

    "Motor sport can never be completely safe. However, these initial findings set out clear improvements that can help to prevent tragic accidents.

    "The Scottish Government sees these changes as essential to allow rallies to continue to take place safely in Scotland.”

    Related: Euan Thorburn wins Scotish Championship

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    Jim McGill

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