A CAMPAIGN to reduce the number of people injured in road accidents has been bolstered by the delivery of speed monitoring equipment.

North Yorkshire Police now has three portable radar speed monitors.

They will be used at a variety of road-side locations and will display both the speed limit for that stretch of road and the speed of approaching vehicles from a range of 150 metres.

The "approach only" radar ensures that the display shows only the speed of oncoming vehicles and ignores anything going in the opposite direction.

This particular model is a new product that only came on the market this year and officers tested it out yesterday outside Burneston Primary School, near Bedale.

The equipment has been provided through a sponsorship agreement with digital communications specialists Sepura Limited, which provides Tetra radio communication equipment to the emergency services, including North Yorkshire Police.

Peter Walker, director of UK business for Sepura, said: "Sepura works hard to promote public safety. We are delighted to reinforce this message in North Yorkshire and expect these speed monitors to reduce incidents and make the roads safer.

"As a former deputy chief constable with North Yorkshire Police, I am particularly delighted to help this force with their efforts on behalf of the community."

Independent research has shown that 90 per cent of drivers slow down when they see the warning display.

Deputy Chief Constable Roger Baker said: "I was impressed when I saw demonstrations of these speed monitors and I believe they will be a valuable tool in our armoury for combating speeding in built-up areas where specific problems have been identified, for example around schools.

"The fact that they are mobile means they can be used at appropriate locations anywhere in the county.

"I am grateful to Sepura and Peter Walker for their support - as his successor, it's good to be working together on such a worthwhile project."

Earlier this year the force launched a campaign to cut the number of injuries and deaths on the county's roads, with special emphasis being placed on dealing with motorcyclists travelling at extreme speeds.