ALMOST four times as many people have died on North Yorkshire's roads so far this year than by the same time last year.

Figures released by North Yorkshire County Council show a sharp rise in the number of road deaths, with 19 people killed in the county in the first quarter of 2007 compared to five in the first quarter of 2006.

It is the worst start to a year since 2003, with 14 deaths on the roads by the same point in 2005 and 17 in 2004.

But the total number of deaths last year was 61 - the lowest for seven years.

Barry Mason, head of North Yorkshire County Council's head of network strategy, said: "Deaths and serious injuries on the roads of North Yorkshire have reduced by nearly a third in recent years.

"North Yorkshire County Council and other organisations in the 95 Alive Road safety Partnership is working hard to drive down the number of road casualties to secure long term improvements in road safety.

"Even with the first quarter total for 2007, the number of fatalities in North Yorkshire continues to show a long-term downward trend, and the figures for this year need to be seen in this context.

"Nevertheless, more than 25 per cent of deaths for this quarter have been motorcyclists, and we must continue to focus upon high risk locations and specific road user groups.

"We welcome the opportunity to highlight the importance of road safety, and to stress to all road users, including motorcyclists, the importance of observing speed limits and driving in a manner appropriate to the road conditions."

Carole Whittingham, founder of Yorkshire-based charity Scarred (Support and Care After Road Deaths), said there was increasing concern about the number of young people dying on the county's roads.

She said: "Young people do tend to think they are invulnerable, that nothing can happen to them.

"They seem to have this thought that bad things happen to bad people, but that quite clearly is not the case."

The Press has launched a campaign which aims to stop under-age youngsters getting behind the wheel of a car by producing a hard-hitting video for schools in out area.

Live Now, Drive Later was launched following the inquest into the deaths of 15-year-old Joel Corner and Daniel Wright, and van driver Peter Alexander.

Last April Joel took his father's Audi A4 and crashed into Mr Alexander's van in Stockton Lane. York, Joel, his passenger Daniel, and Mr Alexander, all died.


Road deaths in North Yorkshire:

2002 - 80
2003 - 80
2004 - 72
2005 - 74
2006 - 61

Deaths in first three months:

2002 - 24
2003 - 25
2004 - 17
2005 - 14
2006 - 5
2007 - 19