Drivers on a notorious stretch of North Yorkshire road have been hit with penalties after being observed by a police eye-in-the-sky.
North Yorkshire Police carried out an enforcement operation on the B1222 near Sherburn using a drone to identify dangerous driving.
Operation Apex focused on the stretch of road near Squires Café, a popular destination for motorbikers and sports car enthusiasts.
Police say the route has been the scene of a number of serious collisions and is regularly the subject of reports relating to dangerous overtaking, excessive speed and other high-risk driving behaviour.
By monitoring road users from an elevated vantage point, they could identify offences that are otherwise difficult to detect.
Across the two days, officers:
- Issued 44 Traffic Offence Reports (TORs)
- Seized vehicles being driven without insurance
- Conducted numerous vehicle stops.
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.
“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.”
Similar operations will be carried out throughout North Yorkshire, the force says.