Friday 6th November 2015

Sergeant Allan Thomson: PH Meets

After yesterday's 'scamera' scare a more positive vision of road policing, courtesy of the Isle of Man's chief traffic cop

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You probably haven't heard of Detective Sergeant Allan Thomson of the Isle of Man constabulary, but we think that you should. Both because he's the man in charge of traffic policing in the only part of the UK where public roads have no speed limits, but also because he has pioneered a common sense approach to enforcement that is apparently working far better than the old zero tolerance approach.

Choice of car gets PH approval

"We're unique here," he admits, "in that you can get off the boat and go up onto the mountain course and be doing 180mph within 15 minutes, without breaking the law."

That poses a serious challenge to Thomson and his small team, with just five constables permanently working on traffic enforcement. About a third of the island's road network has no upper speed limit, including nearly all of the famous Mountain section of the TT course. Predictably the island exercises a strong appeal to both bikers and drivers who want a chance to drive at the sort of speeds that would normally see them standing in front of a magistrate.

"We try to engage with people and to talk to them," says Thomson, "to treat them appropriately to make them behave better. We never forget this is the public road, not a racetrack... but we want you to come back next year and to tell your friends how good it is, how good the police are."

Things used to be different before Thomson took over the role, three years ago.

"The old culture was to put everybody in the book, not to ask questions or even to find out their story," he explains, "we used to site the speed traps on the exit to villages, where people are already excited and starting to go faster. I moved them back into the villages, so people could see why we were doing it, and we started to engage with people more - to explain what we were doing and why we were doing it, not just write tickets."

"We never forget this is the public road"

This resulted in a big reduction in both speeding convictions and - we presume - revenue from fines, but it also dramatically dropped both the incidents of the sort of anti-social behaviour the island used to be plagued by, and also crashes and accidents.

"It's all about establishing the idea that if you do wrong we're going to have a word with you," Thomson explains, "it's about painting a picture of the hazards over here, getting across that these are public roads. If you hurt somebody you are liable for it, regardless of whether there are any speed limits or not. But we want people to come over here and enjoy themselves... My guys used to be doing 12-hour shifts with eight hours of pinging people and another four writing it all up. Now they're on the road, trying to be in the right place at the right time."

This proactive approach hasn't won universal favour, Thomson admits to having been approached by a motorist during "Mad Sunday" - when the Mountain Course from Ramsey to Douglas is turned into a one-way road - who demanded he do something about the hordes of flat-out bikers: "He was a visitor, he'd somehow managed to come on holiday during TT week, and he couldn't understand it, he said to me 'what are you going to do about all of this?', I explained that I couldn't see anybody doing anything illegal. He didn't get it, I think he wanted me to arrest everybody."

The TT week is definitely the busiest time for the Manx traffic unit, with Thomson's team temporarily expanded to 22 officers, and with covert bikes sent out to keep an eye on things - these are apparently high-performance sports bikes rather than the normal BMW or Hondas.

Common sense enforcement working

"You wouldn't spot them, they're really well done," says Thomson, "and they're being ridden by people who really know what they're doing. If you see a big sign that says 'Covert Bikes Operating' the first thing you do is look in the mirror, and of course there's a bike behind you - is he one? Is the guy in front? Accidents went down as soon as we introduced them."

Perhaps surprisingly, the Manx constabulary don't use high-speed interceptors, having nothing faster than a Focus ST wagon. "You definitely need a car that you can make ground in," Thomson says, "but you're never going to be going as fast as some of the bikers. You can be driving at 100mph with the lights and sirens on and there will still be motorbikes whistling past like you're standing still."

In the past the Isle of Man tried to introduce speed cameras. "They didn't go down very well," says Thomson; apparently both had been broken within days of being installed. Now members of the community are trained to use laser speed guns and then pass the details of anyone driving or riding anti-socially onto the police. Being a relatively small island means it's never hard to find people. "We'll have a chat with the drivers or riders," says Thomson, "that almost always works. You might be surprised, it's really not like the Wacky Races over here."

Common sense speed enforcement that actually works? It'll never catch on...

Portaits: James Lipman

[MrBarry123]

It's not a fair comparison to mainland UK though because the mix of people, I imagine, are entirely different i.e. more nice people who care about their existing way of life and less tts. If you introduced a similar approach in the UK, you would have people driving like fking idiots within 5-10 minutes and they'd continue to do so until they hit a wall.

[V8 FOU]

Ah, Monas Isle.. Always a bit different. Using some common sense - but other Police Authorities need the cash raised apparently. The Island isn't too short of dosh. No corporation tax, no business rates, personal allowance of around £12K etc.

Great as it is, this could never work here. Unfortunately.

Must have another holiday over there soon...

[spodrod]

A very sensible approach and Im pleased that it seems to be working.

[topless360]

This is how policing should be done, top job!

[Bo_apex]

good to see a sensible Government Policy and friendly Policing with common sense prevailing. However, this is only possible due to the IOM controlling their population / immigration. Glad to see it's working well for them

[unsprung]

MrBarry123 said:

It's not a fair comparison to mainland UK though because the mix of people, I imagine, are entirely different i.e. more nice people who care about their existing way of life and less tts. If you introduced a similar approach in the UK, you would have people driving like fking idiots within 5-10 minutes and they'd continue to do so until they hit a wall.

There is something to context and culture, isn't there.

In Europe, on the Continent, there is that classical comparison of high-trust cultures vs low-trust cultures -- which runs roughly north to south, respectively. The issue of trust being a public good which is either present and socially enforced, or absent and individually exploited.

In the US, you might be able to have lax enforcement in parts of, say, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Montana. But if you would attempt this anywhere near places like New York City, Miami or Los Angeles... the result would resemble a classical "tragedy of the commons" -- a scene from Mad Max or Carmageddon.

[Kawasicki]

Must remember to book another holiday to the Isle of Man.

Seriously though, treat people like animals that need to be controlled and that's how they will behave.

Treat people with respect and the respect will be returned, irrespective of culture/social standing or even morals. Yes you will always find exceptions, but in general human nature doesn't vary much.

Not many people intentionally hurt themselves or others.

There are two possible end solutions to the problem of road safety. Either get respect from the whole population or restrict the whole population with speed limiters/strict enforcement of low speed limits. Unfortunately the UK seems to be taking the second route at the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if the second method ultimately ends up with less deaths and that is enough justification for many. What price freedom?

I wish Sergeant Thomson and the people of the Isle of Man the best of luck.

[anonymous-user]

In other news, the Falklands has a different style of policing.

[oversteerer]

I once asked an Italian state policeman if I would get into trouble if I drove at 200 kph on the Autostrada. He told me that I would be fine if I used common sense. Driving at high speeds with care and attention is not dangerous but driving like an idiot at high speeds is extremely dangerous.

[Ved]

Well done to them. It may be an isolated case but it does show that common sense and acting like human beings is an approach that works for road safety.

[Debaser]

Sounds like an entirely sensible approach to traffic policing.

It's a pity things aren't more sensible in the UK.

[Motormatt]

I have first hand experience of Allans excellent approach to policing the IoM's roads after visiting with a car club a couple of years ago.

He took the time to meet us at the hotel we were staying at after dinner on the evening of arrival and gave an informative and entertaining insight into the history of the island, its speed limits and their enforcement. He was very frank, open and honest about what you can and cant do on the islands roads.

I took three things away with me.

1. Where there is a posted limit, stick to it from the first to last limit sign. No exceptions.
2. When 'enjoying' the de restricted roads never forget you're sharing them with other, sometimes very slow moving, vehicles (think tractors).
3. No matter what you're driving, don't try to keep up with a local on a bike or in a hot hatch!

I got the impression that he genuinely wanted people to come and enjoy the island and its unique roads, a top bloke.

[big_rob_sydney]

With freedom comes responsibility. As long as people exercise that appropriately, great. I would love to drive at the speed that *I* thought appropriate, given the conditions at the time, as opposed to some unelected pencil-neck bureaucrat who sits in his ivory tower polishing consolidated revenue.

Putting that aside for the moment, my question isnt too the current enforcer, but rather regarding the last one. Since it appears that this newer approach to policing is working so well, why hasn't the perpetrator of the previous enforcement regime been strung up by his balls yet?

Clearly that's what he deserves on a good day.

[r1monkey]

having spent a while talking to the police while waiting for the mountain road to re open ,i can say they are a spot on group of chaps who are allowed to use common sense rather than an iron fist to keep us in check .
When the road was reopened the cop just said keep to the speed limit until the national speed limit sign , then just go past me and try not to fall off . Why can't all police be like this ?

[diluculophile]

MrBarry123 said:

It's not a fair comparison to mainland UK though because the mix of people, I imagine, are entirely different i.e. more nice people who care about their existing way of life and less tts. If you introduced a similar approach in the UK, you would have people driving like fking idiots within 5-10 minutes and they'd continue to do so until they hit a wall.

Plenty of tts turn up during TT week...
The rest of the time it's a fantastic place to drive/ride/cycle, even in a 10 year old underpowered hatchback.
I wish I still lived there...

[DonkeyApple]

MrBarry123 said:

It's not a fair comparison to mainland UK though because the mix of people, I imagine, are entirely different i.e. more nice people who care about their existing way of life and less tts. If you introduced a similar approach in the UK, you would have people driving like fking idiots within 5-10 minutes and they'd continue to do so until they hit a wall.

Yes, very true.

However, if the mainland locals instead of being armed with laser speed guns were just given guns and asked to use them in anti social hooligans then it might work.

What it does highlight though is the importance of allowing local constabularies to police in the manner that suites the environment.

[mantior]

I think a lot of it is down to us growing up around speed and danger here in the island. Don't forget that every year we do sadly clean up the remains of maybe half a dozen visitors and local teenagers who have not got the necessary instincts to drive fast, yet rationally.

The thing about local police is all about how you put yourself across. If police see you bezzing about town like a dhead, and then see you do a scatty overtake doing 65 on the de-restricted mountain, expect a severe bking or worse. Whilst if they see you calmly following speed limits where there are speed limits, and generally showing you are a considerate driver, you can smoothly and rationally overtake a police car at 110mph without hassle.

Whatever you do, make sure it looks planned basically!

[Vanin]

https://www.motorists.org/press/montana-no-speed-l...

[iloveboost]

MrBarry123 said:

It's not a fair comparison to mainland UK though because the mix of people, I imagine, are entirely different i.e. more nice people who care about their existing way of life and less tts. If you introduced a similar approach in the UK, you would have people driving like fking idiots within 5-10 minutes and they'd continue to do so until they hit a wall.

Jim Jefferies does a good job on this kind of thing on his funny as h**l gun control rant. Basically you introduce laws to prevent a minority of idiots from taking the p**s, killing themselves and/or other people.

Edited by iloveboost on Sunday 8th November 18:06

[Zombie]

unsprung said:

There is something to context and culture, isn't there.

In Europe, on the Continent, there is that classical comparison of high-trust cultures vs low-trust cultures -- which runs roughly north to south, respectively. The issue of trust being a public good which is either present and socially enforced, or absent and individually exploited.

In the US, you might be able to have lax enforcement in parts of, say, Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Montana. But if you would attempt this anywhere near places like New York City, Miami or Los Angeles... the result would resemble a classical "tragedy of the commons" -- a scene from Mad Max or Carmageddon.

I was with you all the way up to "context"...