POLICE will meet motorcycle campaigners in an effort to cut soaring road deaths in North Yorkshire.

The get-together follows high-level talks between senior police, fire and council officers.

But despite plans to relaunch a safety campaign next year, the senior police officer behind both meetings says any future cuts in road deaths will ultimately down to individual road users.

Superintendent David Short said talks in Sherburn-in-Elmet tomorrow will centre on ways of cutting road accidents involving motorcycles.

Two accidents last week took the motorcyclist death toll to 20.

"At last week's meeting we agreed to continue with our current efforts ands to re-launch our current safety campaign next year when the motorcycling season starts again," said Supt Short.

"This includes going to places where motorcyclists gather and talking to them, educating and encouraging them to take advanced riding courses.

"We will also be concentrating police presence at accident black spots and prosecuting any incidents of reckless driving.

"We have invited all the major road safety groups to this week's meeting to discuss what we need to do."

But, he said, in spite of plans by police and to tackle road deaths, a cut in future accident figures will ultimately rest with individuals.

"All the agencies and rider groups are doing their bit to improve road safety," said Supt Short.

"But ultimately it rests with individuals themselves to take more responsibility. They must consider other road users and realise that accidents could happen to them."

North Yorkshire County Council roads officer David Lindsay attended last week's meeting.

"The figures are totally out of proportion to the number of motorcycles on the road," he said.

"There a far fewer motorcycles than cars on the road. Yet the percentage of accidents to the number of vehicles on the road is much higher than to cars." The meeting is known to have been provided with information relating to the circumstances of previous crashes which indicate whether they were caused by driver or rider error.

"It is not a straightforward issue, there is a seasonal element," said Mr Lindsay.

"Come the end of the summer when people put their bikes away there will not be as many accidents."

More detailed research into the causes and prevention of accidents is set to be carried out, said Mr Lindsay. "We have something we hope will tackle the problem," he said.

CORRECTION - Tomorrow's meeting is a private meeting between the police and bikers' representatives and not as stated in tonight's Evening Press. We apologise for the error.

Updated: 12:15 Tuesday, August 20, 2002