SPEEDING drivers are being shocked into slowing down by watching footage of high-speed crashes.

As part of Operation Siren, speed checks were made in Huby, near Easingwold, by police.

Drivers using the A19 approach to the village in Bell Lane were targeted after local residents complained it was like a racetrack.

In four hours, 24 drivers were stopped speeding on a 30mph stretch, with the fastest car being driven at 45mph.

The scheme was organised by Hambleton Safety Partnership, which hopes to teach drivers about the dangers of speeding.

Those stopped could either accept a £60 fine and three points on their licence or watch a 20-minute video on the dangers of speeding.

Sergeant Paul Stephenson, of Easingwold police, said: "We have had numerous complaints about Huby and the speeds at which people travel through its centre. Speeding is by far the biggest cause of deaths on the road -either by driving too fast for the road conditions or by exceeding the speed limit.

"Through Operation Siren, we are able to inform drivers of the harsh realities of speeding and its effect not only on the driver but, more importantly, on others.

"Speeding contributes to the thousands of road accidents every year, each one of which is a drain on the emergency services and can take us away from other serious incidents."

Operation Siren has been run in several villages around Easingwold in recent months in response to speeding worries.

Watch manager Steven Harris, of Northallerton fire brigade, said: "We hope this leads to a reduction in deaths and accidents.

"Speed is one of the main reasons why accidents happen, and we hope this illustrates to people the need to drive at the speed limit. One of the problems in Huby is that it has a straight main street and people are putting their foot down."

Kevin Pratt, North Yorkshire County Council's road safety officer for Hambleton, helped out during the checks.

He said: "I think a lot of people do not notice what speed they are doing, and this makes them think a bit more."