Cleveland Police has warned dangerous drivers they will face the "full force of the law" after a series of incidents involving vehicles being driven down the road the wrong way.
Police said drivers had put both themselves and other drivers at risk in three separate incidents over the past week.
Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson (Image: Cleveland Police)
Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson said: "We have seen a number of incidents in the last week, including where two young people have risked their lives, and the lives of other innocent road users, by driving dangerously.
"Staggeringly, this has included some driving contraflow on our busiest roads in Cleveland."
The warning comes less than two months after seven people, including on-duty officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, died in a devastating crash on the A66.
The tragedy involved a head on collision between a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66, and the police car.
PC Matthew Blades (left) and PC Tom Clough (right) were killed in a crash on the A66 in August. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)
Chief Superintendent Richardson added: "This puts people at immediate, serious risk of harm or even death.
"It is truly shocking to see drivers take these risks, and we want those people to know that we will come down hard on anyone who thinks this behaviour is acceptable, and we will use the full force of the law in identifying, investigating and prosecuting anyone who commits these offences."
In August, the Police Federation said young people were 'baiting police officers' with dangerous driving after the A66 tragedy. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
The first incident happened shortly after midnight on October 12, when a vehicle made off from officers on Cambridge Road in Middlesbrough before turning onto Acklam Road and travelling against the flow of traffic on the A66.
Police are still trying to identify the driver.
At about 12.20am on October 14, two 16-year-old boys were arrested after a Renault Megane fled police, hit street furniture and was driven the wrong way along the A66.
A West Yorkshire Police officer helping Cleveland Police arrested both occupants before anyone was hurt.
One 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Thursday, October 15, to dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.
The other boy was arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and has been bailed while police investigate.
Cleveland Police have since shared video footage showing the pursuit that resulted in the teenager's arrest.
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In the third incident, reported at about 1am on October 15, a Volkswagen Passat was driven erratically in Thornaby before heading dangerously against the flow of traffic on the A19.
Police are also trying to identify that driver.
Chief Superintendent Richardson said: "We do not want to see anyone else harmed as a result of this behaviour, and so I ask those people to please think twice before committing these extremely dangerous acts.
"I also ask anyone who witnesses any driving appearing to be dangerous or erratic, to dial 999 immediately."