WIVES and girlfriends of motorcyclists are being asked by police to employ an ancient feminine art to reduce the death toll on North Yorkshire's roads - nagging.

Statistics show that in seven years, motorcycle fatalities in the county have more than doubled.

Last year 28 bikers died, and seven have lost their lives so far in 2004.

Sgt Paul Stephenson, of North Yorkshire Police's eastern area road policing group, said although roads were policed forcefully and vigilantly, with police taking a hard line towards speeders, racers and show-offs, the women in the motorcyclists' lives could also help to stem dangerous riding - by nagging or henpecking their biker men.

"Do the wives and girlfriends of motorcyclists realise how selfish their husband or boyfriend is being?" said Sgt Stephenson, who rides a Honda Pan-European 1300CC bike and has been motorcycling for more than 25 years.

"They could be at home in their shared house with their children and see their partner go out on his bike, and as a result of his actions, whether it be a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre or excessive speed, a policeman could be knocking on her door that evening with bad news. I've seen bikers' wives left with pain and suffering of having to bury their husband, while trying to cope with looking after their kids and paying a mortgage.

"My message is: allow him to enjoy motorcycling, but ask him to do it in a responsible manner with due regard to the loved ones he is going to leave behind. He might think accidents only happen to other people, but I've got a long list of people who have died and thought it would never happen to them."

While police statistics show the number of road deaths generally has declined, there has been an increase in the number of motorcyclists killed in road accidents - an increase that has coincided with the rapid growth in the sales of high-performance machines, said Sgt Stephenson.

Bikes with top speeds of 180mph are available for the price of a small car, and their performance can massively outstrip the abilities of the riders.

"At the same time the force is strongly reinforcing the message to other road users that they need to be aware of the vulnerability of motorcyclists - by no means all motorcyclist deaths are the fault of the rider," said Sgt Stephenson.

Andrew Timms, vice-representative of the Yorkshire Motorcycle Action Group, said: "One or two bikers go a bit psycho now and again, but the vast majority of us are sensible. It wouldn't work with my girlfriend nagging me because I don't pull wheelies, I just like a bit of speed now and again in the right conditions. The type of person who goes out and speeds and pulls wheelies isn't going to listen to nagging."

Updated: 11:58 Friday, June 11, 2004