Siren lures in the speeders (From Gazette & Herald)

Siren lures in the speeders

AN innovative scheme aimed at speeding motorists was given its third road test in Ryedale this week.

Operation Siren was originally launched last year by Safer Ryedale to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding in the district. Drivers who are not driving excessively above the limit are given the option of attending a safety presentation or receiving a speeding conviction in the conventional way.

Terry Triffit, North Yorkshire Police community safety officer, said it uses shock tactics to get the message across. "The drivers meet officers from the fire, ambulance and police services along with staff from the county council road safety unit who explain the serious injuries and deaths that result from accidents over local speed limits. Explicit photographs from real road accidents are used to get the message over, and also a power point display designed by Danny Westmoreland from the fire and rescue team."

This time around they focused on three areas - Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Malton. One of the roads focused on in Pickering was the A170, found to be one of the most dangerous roads in Britain in a recent AA-sponsored study.

"It was a successful first day at Pickering, with 20 motorists being stopped for speeding," said Mr Triffit. "One of those received a ticket in the normal way and the other 19 attended the siren site."

Ana Richards, Safer Ryedale co-ordinator, added that many of them said it would change their driving habits - they would keep to speed limits in the future once they realised how much more serious injuries resulted from accidents caused by cars travelling over 30mph.

PC Triffitt stressed that anyone caught driving at an excessive speed during Operation Siren would not be offered the choice and would be automatically ticketed on the spot.

Updated: 11:19 Wednesday, October 15, 2003