Police vow to punish 'horrendous drivers' doing double speed limit in Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Police say they are 'intensifying' efforts to stop 'horrendous driving and motorcycling' they have dealt with in the region during lockdown.

They said incidents include a biker doing twice the speed limit in a village, and a car doing 132 on an A-road.

They listed:

⚠️On Wednesday evening, a motorcyclist in Craven was clocked at 63mph in a 30mph village

⚠️ Around 20 speeding offences were recorded within just 45 minutes at the same location. A quarter of them involved speeds above 46mph in the 30mph limit.

⚠️Recently we also stopped a car driver travelling at 132mph on the A19 near Thirsk.

⚠️ Speeds of 122mph on the A64 and 117mph on the A168 have also been recorded in the last few weeks.

⚠️ Roads are getting busier, with more motorists, pedestrians and cyclists now that some lockdown rules have been eased. This puts even more lives at risk.

A statement from the force added: "We are concerned someone will be killed this weekend if it continues. We're determined not to let that happen.

"Anyone using North Yorkshire's roads this weekend is being advised there will be a highly-visible police presence.

"From Friday, extra road policing resources are being deployed to communities and key routes. This will continue until the risk is reduced.

"Roads Policing Officers and the safety camera van fleet are out in force enforcing all road offences.

"We're responding to community concerns - there will be a strong emphasis on speed enforcement in communities where residents have highlighted concerns, as well as on main roads with a high casualty rate and other hotspots."

Superintendent Paula Booth said : “These road users aren’t just creeping a few miles an hour above the speed limit. They are taking to the road with the express intention of using it as a racetrack.

“Based on the incidents we’ve been dealing with, I am genuinely concerned we’ll be experiencing fatalities this weekend. We really don’t want that to happen."

Supt Booth added that residents across North Yorkshire – especially in rural communities served by A-roads and B-roads – are worried by the influx of speeding traffic.

“Residents are scared for the safety of their families and communities, and we are intensifying our response to these road safety concerns,” she said.

“We’re doing everything we can to save lives – but motorists also need to do their part by sticking to the rules of the road to keep everyone safe. If they don’t, they will be dealt with accordingly. Please reduce your speed and save lives”.

Officers across the country will be carrying out speed enforcement operations. On average, 17 people are killed and 126 are seriously injured every month in the UK in crashes where speeding is believed to have been a significant factor.

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