Isle of Man TT 2026: Police launch safety campaign after 32 accidents the previous year

• During the 2025 TT, 32 road traffic accidents resulting in minor to serious injuries were recorded, along with 65 further incidents involving property damage
• Men over 50 continue to be the group most frequently involved in serious accidents
• In 2026, police are deploying a combination of marked and unmarked units across the entire island

The Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man is the oldest and most prestigious road race in the world. Every year in late spring, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts flock to the small island in the Irish Sea to watch the races on the Mountain Course, which stretches over 60 kilometres. But the risks are not confined to the race course. Serious traffic accidents regularly occur on public roads away from the competition, and that is precisely where the new campaign comes in.

What happened on public roads during the 2025 TT?

The figures from last year paint a clear picture. During the 2025 TT, the Isle of Man Constabulary recorded a total of 32 road traffic accidents in which those involved suffered minor to serious injuries. A further 65 incidents were also recorded, including accidents that resulted solely in property damage. The police also carried out 22 positive roadside drug tests, identified nine cases of drink-driving or driving while unfit, and made three arrests for dangerous driving. The tally was rounded off by 226 speeding offences and 44 cases of driving without due care and attention.

A trend that has persisted for several years concerns the demographic distribution of accident victims: men over 50 remain the group most frequently involved in accidents resulting in serious injuries. Many of them are experienced motorcyclists who come to the island expecting to ride the legendary roads of the TT course on their own. As early as 2022, BBC reports indicated that 67 per cent of those seriously injured in motorcycle accidents came from the over-50 age group of visitors who had travelled from mainland Britain or abroad.

What strategy is the police pursuing for the 2026 TT?

The new campaign, entitled “How Will Your TT End? You Choose…”, follows on from previous campaigns that ran under the slogan “Know Your Limits”. The fundamental idea remains the same: every road user bears responsibility for their own decisions on the road. The wording “You Choose” is intended to place even greater emphasis than before on personal consequences.

Superintendent Danny Rotchell stated: “We want everyone to come and enjoy the TT experience and make it home safely by making sensible decisions, and to choose how your TT will end.” Rotchell emphasised that the policing approach goes beyond mere road safety: “We are going into the TT with a clear message that we will be firm but fair with everyone.”

In practical terms, this means the deployment of both marked and unmarked police vehicles along the course and across the entire island. Sergeant Lee Wright of the Roads Policing Unit made clear that speeding, drink and drug driving, as well as dangerous or reckless driving, will be rigorously pursued. Wright said: “We want everyone to enjoy the TT and get home safely without any injuries or convictions, and we urge everyone to make good choices.”

Four years without a fatality on open roads

A remarkable aspect of the current safety situation: according to radio station 3FM, the emergency services and road safety partners are supporting the campaign with the aim of maintaining a run of four consecutive years without a fatality on open roads during the racing festivals. This record is the result of increased police presence, temporary speed limits at accident blackspots, and repeated awareness campaigns. As recently as 2022, the police had for the first time explicitly named the goal of recording no fatalities on public roads as a success criterion, following deaths in previous years.

How are visitors informed before they even arrive?

The campaign is not limited to the island itself. Road Safety Operations Manager Berni Low explained that safety programme teams will once again be present on ferries to the United Kingdom this year to spread the message during the journey. In addition, an information stand will be operated at the TT Grandstand.

Low said: “We want everyone to enjoy the TT, but everyone needs to make the right choice when it comes to how they ride, how they behave and, more importantly, making it home to loved ones safely.”

Merseyside Police on the British mainland has also launched Operation Needle, a complementary measure designed to prevent motorcycle thefts while TT visitors travel to the island via Liverpool. In the previous year, not a single motorcycle was stolen during this operation.

Mountain Road now open as one-way street

As Manx Radio reported on 22 May, the Mountain Road has reopened and is now operating as a one-way street in the direction of the course. This measure will remain in place throughout the entire TT period. The races themselves begin on Monday 25 May 2026 with the first qualifying sessions.

The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service has also confirmed its support for the safety campaign and wished all involved a safe TT. The island’s ambulance service had handled over 700 emergency calls during last year’s TT, with the majority of callouts involving either road users or visitors with medical emergencies.

Why are older riders particularly at risk?

Statistics from recent years reveal a recurring pattern: men over 50 represent the largest risk group for serious injury accidents during the TT. Many of them are experienced motorcyclists who come to the island expecting to ride the legendary roads of the TT course on their own. Chief Constable Russ Foster had already pointed out the previous year that the island’s roads offer no margin for error in the event of human misjudgement, especially for those unfamiliar with the conditions. The narrow, winding routes with stone walls, hedgerows and blind corners leave no room for mistakes, and the absence of speed limits on many sections outside the TT period compounds this risk.

The phenomenon of foreign riders driving on the wrong side of the road has also been identified as a growing problem in recent years. In the 2025 campaign, stickers and signs were placed across the island as reminders about driving on the left.

➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: Isle of Man TT 2026: The Complete Overview – Schedule, Riders, Teams & Results. Find all key information on this topic in one place.

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