A MAJOR crackdown on speeding is to take place after police discovered some motorists were travelling at up to 128mph on a country road.

The 60mph A166 between Stamford Bridge and Driffield has become a virtual race track for some bikers and drivers.

In a four week operation over July and August this year, officers laid down rubber strips at two sites on the road – one set at Fridaythorpe and another set at Youlthorpe.

The strips were able to detect the speed of the vehicles passing over them.

At Youlthorpe, the highest recorded speed for a motorbike was 128mph and for a car 116mph.

At Fridaythorpe the top motorbike speed was 127mph and 125.5mph for a car.

Unfortunately, because no cameras were deployed, all the offenders got away scot free. Inspector Mark Hughes, of Humberside Police, said driving at such speeds was reckless, dangerous and a serious risk to other road users on the A166.

For this reason, the police are to use covert speed camera in an effort to snare danger drivers and riders.

Officers insist they will target those who are driving at excessive speeds, not motorists travelling a few miles an hour faster than they should.

Insp Hughes said: “This operation is justified by the extent of the problem on the A166 and I believe this is the safest way to deal with this issue. Motorists have no defence to drive at such speeds, which are extremely dangerous and pose serious risk to themselves, road users and pedestrians.

“I must stress this operation is aimed solely at the high-end offender and the speeding motorist caught speeding will be photographed by a speed camera and stopped by a patrol car to be dealt with accordingly.”

In the last five years on the A166 from August 2004 to July 2009, there have been seven deaths, 36 serious injuries and 90 slight injuries.