EMERGENCY services and highways chiefs are joining forces with a lifesaving message this Bank Holiday weekend.

The police, fire service and North Yorkshire County Council are holding a day of action on Saturday as part of their 95 Alive road safety campaign.

The weekend is expected to be one of the busiest of the year on the county’s roads, and in the past it has also one of been the worst for deaths and accidents.

The York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership, called 95 Alive, is working with the Highways Agency to encourage, persuade and ensure people drive safely.

The campaign aims to ensure that 95 more people will be alive by the end of this year than would otherwise have been. The aim of the day of action is for there to be no accidents or casualties on the region’s roads.

Police will be patrolling on the A1 and other popular routes in North Yorkshire, with fire and rescue and road safety teams operating from motorway services to make it a high-profile day.

David Bowe, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director of highways and the chairman of 95 Alive, said: “The important thing is to make people realise that driving responsibly, taking a rest and being prepared is the best recipe for a good holiday and getting their families home safely. “It could make the difference between a good break or the holiday from hell.”

Another day of action is planned for July 24, to coincide with the start of the schools’ summer holidays in England.