SPEEDING drivers are being shown horrific images of crashes rather than being given penalty tickets in a bid to slow them down.

Residents in North Stainley, near Ripon, are tired of drivers who speed through their village.

A North Yorkshire Fire Service survey found that nearly 50 per cent of motorists sped through North Stainley.

A multi-agency taskforce launched a hard-hitting anti-speeding campaign, Operation Siren, to tackle the issue.

The operation saw speeders pulled over by North Yorkshire Police and then told of the risks they were taking.

Drivers were also shown images of accidents, which were a result of speeding, instead of being given a penalty ticket.

This type of operation has been held previously in North Yorkshire to great effect.

Community officer PC Gareth Jones said: "The speed limit is 30mph, but the fastest car was doing 53mph. I think it's both locals and visitors.

"This type of operation allows us to talk to drivers to educate them and try to slow them down.

"It works better this way rather then giving them a £60 fine and three penalty points."

A mobile unit was set up in Watermill Lane where drivers were told the error of their ways.

Alan Bell, Ripon Fire Station manager, said: "Most people drive through the village at about 40mph.

"The problem is that many people don't realise the dangers of speeding and we have to make them aware of the consequences.

"We are trying to drive home the message about speeding and at the same time we are giving people another chance."

North Yorkshire County Council was also on hand to show drivers how far they travelled when braking sharply.

North Stainley and Sleningford Parish Council has also raised the issue and is keen to find ways to slow drivers down.

Parish Councillor Francis Auckland said: "Speeding is an on-going problem in many small villages.

"People go through the village too fast and there is a junior school on the main road and it's obviously a concern.

"We hope this will slow drivers down and will also show us if further traffic calming is needed.

"We want to make sure that we don't get any accidents and so we want to stop people speeding in the village."

Operation Siren is also part of the emergency services' 95Alive campaign. It works by the emergency services saving an extra 95 lives by 2010 through increased warnings and precautions.