(Image: North Yorkshire Police)
MORE than 40 traffic offence reports during a targeted road safety operation on a road popular with bikers.
North Yorkshire Police say they have issued 44 Traffic Offence Reports in the B1222, near Sherburn in Elmet, whilst monitoring the road for two days this month.
Operation Apex took place on Thursday, August 6, and Sunday, August 9, and focused on the stretch of road near Squires Café - an area that police described as 'a popular destination for motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts.'
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They added that the route has been the scene of several serious crashes and there is frequent reports of dangerous overtaking, speeding, and "other high-risk driving behaviours".
Superintendent Mick Roffe, Head of Specialist Operations at North Yorkshire Police said: "Our aim is simple: to save lives and protect our communities. Drone technology gives us a clear view of driver and rider behaviour, helping us identify dangerous manoeuvres that might otherwise go undetected.
"It provides valuable evidence and allows us to target enforcement where it can have the greatest impact.
"Operations such as Apex are not about penalising people for the sake of it. They are about preventing serious collisions, reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads, and ensuring that everyone gets home safely."
During the two-day operation, officers issued 44 traffic offence reports, seized vehicles being driven without insurance, carried out multiple vehicle stops, and engaged with drivers and riders to promote safer road use.
A drone provided officers with a clear aerial view of the route - something which they say helped them identify unsafe overtakes and other dangerous manoeuvres, then fed back to officers on the ground.
He added: "Most motorists and motorcyclists use our roads responsibly, but we will continue to take action against those whose behaviour puts themselves and others at risk.
"We will continue to use a range of tactics, including drone deployments, to tackle dangerous driving and support our commitment to keeping North Yorkshire's roads safe."