POLICE say 29 riders and drivers have been kicked off North Yorkshire's roads for extreme speeding - and many more are in the legal pipeline.

Since North Yorkshire Police began a hardline enforcement policy aimed at cutting the toll of serious motorcycle accidents, 190 drivers and riders have been caught smashing speed limits by more than 30mph.

They are being put before courts within an average of 31 days from being caught by one of the force's extra patrols and speed traps - some have found themselves before magistrates within ten days.

So far 86 riders and drivers have been convicted, and 29 - 11 of them motorcyclists - have so far been disqualified, some for four months.

One motorcyclist has been convicted of riding at 116mph, and one car driver convicted of driving at 114mph, both on the A1. Another motorcyclist recorded at 134mph awaits trial for dangerous driving. A driver has also been caught at 79mph in a 40mph zone.

Fines so far have ranged from £40 to £1,400, with convicted speeders also getting five or six endorsement points on their licences.

The numbers of extreme speeders caught across the county is falling, as has the number of fatal motorcycle accidents. There have been eight motorbike rider fatalities so far this year in the county, while, by the same time last year, 11 riders and a pillion passenger had died. Injuries are down too.

The results are so encouraging that the fast-tracking policy has been extended to September 30.

Further high visibility and covert police patrols are planned as part of an ongoing strategy, backed by North Yorkshire County Council.

But Assistant Chief Constable David Collins was not ready to celebrate.

He said: "The bottom line is that every single serious road accident has its own growing circle of victims. The victims are not only the people killed or badly hurt, but their partners, their children, their parents, their friends, their workmates, and many others. The circle of grief and loss expands rapidly and mercilessly from every road accident.

"Motorcyclists across the region know that we welcome riders to North Yorkshire, unless they are members of that tiny, irresponsible idiot minority who take risks regardless of the consequences to themselves and their families.

"Let me be clear: North Yorkshire Police will continue to take strong, quick and decisive action against those who ride or drive in a dangerous or antisocial manner."

Updated: 10:29 Tuesday, July 06, 2004