THE alarming number of motorcyclists killed on North Yorkshire's roads has prompted plans for a fresh road safety drive in the county.

Police have already pioneered the Bike Safe initiative, which combines education with prosecution and has been adopted as best practice around the country.

However, Hambleton District Council has confirmed it is to add its weight to the campaign and the Community Safety Team will be looking at ways it can forge partnerships to help tackle the problem.

"Motorcycle fatalities and injuries are massively disproportionate to the number of vehicles on the road," said PC Dick Bentley, who manages the North Yorkshire Police eastern traffic unit.

"It is clear, in order to reduce the number of dead and dying on the roads, all aspects of driver improvement need to be examined and co-ordinated."

A meeting of the Regional Partnership Crime Reduction Group will open a debate on the way forward at Leeming Motel today.