THE number of people killed or seriously injured on North Yorkshire's roads has fallen in the last 12 months.

Figures released by the Department for Transport show 40 people were killed on the county's roads in 2014, down from 51 the year before.

The number of people seriously injured on the roads has also fallen, from 425 in 2013 to 391 in 2014, both far lower than in 2009, when 495 people were seriously injured in incidents on the county's roads.

Deputy Chief Constable Tim Madgwick, of North Yorkshire Police, said road safety was a top priority for North Yorkshire Police and partner agencies, who have "worked tirelessly" to try and reduce the number of casualties and fatalities across the county.

Mr Madgwick said: "It is encouraging that figures show there were fewer fatalities on our roads in 2014 than the previous year with fewer motorcycle deaths. However, the figures are still too high and our work with the 95Alive Road Safety Partnership, numerous road safety charities and the Government, will continue as we strive to make our roads as safe as they possibly can be."

Mr Madgwick said he had worked closely with the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), and a experts around the country to prepare a new initiative for the future.

He said: "It includes plans for how we would like to try and reduce serious and fatal collisions by working with an even wider range of partners, organisations and charities. North Yorkshire Police has taken the lead for this nationally, with the aim of increasing the awareness of motorcycling on our roads as part of a long-term strategy to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities."

The number of KSI incidents, where someone has been killed or seriously injured on North Yorkshire's roads, is at its lowest since 2009, down from 538 to 431.