ANOTHER hardline motorcycle safety campaign was launched in North Yorkshire to coincide with the Easter break, which brought hundreds of riders to busy county roads.

Police and the county council joined forces with the promise of continuing the tough measures which last year saw rider and pillion passenger deaths fall to 17 from a record 28 in 2003.

The start of the 2005 campaign was marked by the positioning of two wrecked motorcycles, one of which had been involved in a fatal accident, at the main entrance to County Hall in Northallerton.

"Get tough" action days and fast tracking of extreme speeders to court by police will continue and targeted roads with a history of rider casualties will see extra patrols with financial support from the county council.

Assistant chief constable David Collins said: "We have cut motorcyclist fatalities spectacularly. Now we want to do better.

"We welcome motorcyclists to North Yorkshire, with the colour and spirit of fellowship they bring and the money they spend.

"We do not welcome racers and risk-takers, nor do we welcome riders whose skill is not up to the performance of their machines.

"I am talking about wheelie show-offs and those who fit ear-splitting race exhausts to their machines. There is no reason why the selfish antics of a minority should ruin the enjoyment of the law-abiding majority.''

Extreme speeders fast tracked into court can lose their licences within days of being caught. Last year, 48 motorcyclists and 372 car drivers were fast tracked, of whom 91 lost their licences for up to six months.

County council road safety officer David Lindsay said every motorcyclist killed on roads in the county cost £1.5m, a figure which included investigation, emergency services, health, hospital and other insurance-related costs.

"Although this figure is shocking, at the end of the day it is impossible to put a cost on someone's life and that is why this campaign is so important."

This year's campaign will see the continuation of the Bike Safe education programme, action days at large motorcycle events at venues like Croft Circuit and the increasing use of high-tech equipment including automatic number plate recognition, one of the latest additions to the police armoury.