Helmet camera to cut road deaths

In 2008, 81 people were killed on the county's roads

Traffic police on motorcycles are using a helmet-mounted camera in a bid to cut fatalities on North Yorkshire's roads.

The tiny cameras give a motorcyclists' view of the road and the footage will be examined by highways engineers to see how road safety could be improved.

The camera is part of Operation Anvil - a police campaign to reduce deaths and injuries on the county's roads.

In 2008, 81 people were killed on roads in North Yorkshire. Seventeen of those were motorcyclists, police said.

Increased road safety checks will be carried out during the spring and summer months as part of the operation.

This will be backed up with campaigns to reach all road users from motorcyclists to holidaymakers and parents taking their children to and from school.

Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell said: "Last year three people were murdered in the county. That is three too many, but is a tiny figure compared with the 81 who died on the roads.

"We know that the three principal causes of death on the roads remain inappropriate or excessive speed, drink driving and the failure to wear seatbelts.

"But we will be vigilant to other dangers such as drivers under the influence of drugs, suffering fatigue or using mobile phones at the wheel."