Blame culture puts trackdays in doubt

Britain’s rising blame culture could soon force trackday organisers to dramatically change they way they operate, or even go out of business altogether.

You can read more about the future of trackdays in the latest issue of MCN, out June 19.

Public liability insurance premiums are already beginning to creep up and despite a 25% increase in the numbers of people this year compared to last, the costs may soon be too high for firms to bother.

Riders may soon be forced to take a riding test some other kind of pre-tack screening before being allowed on to the track. The big fear of insurance companies is that untrained amateurs quickly become out of their depth in a potentially deadly environment.

Andy Challiner of Norwich Union told MCN: ” In the current climate there’s a heavily increased chance of compensation claims being successful, and it’s underwriters such as ourselves who foot the bill. ”

But it’s not all doom and gloom, as MCN and circuit owner Octagon are already working on a scheme that will not only provide extra benefits for repeat riders on our track days, it will prove to insurance underwriters that we take the standard of riding seriously.

” Details are still to be released, ” said MCN commercial manager Caroline Meech, ” but we can reveal that our scheme will offer discounts and benefits to riders who log their time with us.

” It will work in the same way that trainee pilots log hours in control and instructors’ comments.This will remove many of the unknown factors in track days, and encourage people to ride safely. ”