POLICE are planning to crack down heavily on irresponsible, anti-social and law-breaking motorists who hit the roads of North Yorkshire over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The county's 6,000 miles of roads are expected to be heaving with cars and motorcycles as people flock to the coast as well as the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales.

Police accept that most people will want to experience a safe and pleasant journey on their day out - but plan to target the "idiot minority" who cause a danger to themselves and others.

Inspector Chris Charlton said: "Those individuals who ride or drive in a dangerous manner, take foolish risks and break speed limits will be targeted and dealt with accordingly.

"We will not tolerate individuals who think they rule the roads and blatantly disregard the safety of themselves or other road users. We will do everything in our powers to target them and get them off our roads."

Extreme speeders - those caught exceeding the speed limit by 30mph or more - can expect to be fast-tracked to court and be banned from the roads within a matter of days.

Other punishments available range from fines and licence points to road bans and even prison in the more serious cases of dangerous riding or driving.

"The harshest consequence, of course, is causing the death of innocent road-users or leaving them with severe physical and mental injuries," added Insp Charlton.

"Not only do those responsible face a prison sentence, but imagine having that on your conscience for the rest of your days, knowing that you have needlessly taken away a life and left loved-ones with broken hearts.

"The families of dangerous riders and drivers also have to cope with the emotional consequences, not least when they are also left mourning a life cut tragically short."

Last year, there were 60 fatal road accidents in North Yorkshire, resulting in a total of 69 deaths. To date in 2007, there have been 27 fatal collisions and 33 deaths.