ROAD safety chiefs in York and across North Yorkshire have backed "no accident Fridays".

Senior police officers have announced a series of road casualty reduction operations on the last day of the working week.

They want to cut the toll of serious injuries and deaths that occurs on the county's 6,000-mile network of highways.

Government figures reveal that Friday is the most dangerous day to be on the county's roads, with 13 people hurt on average.

Fridays see about 700 accidents every year, compared to an average of 600 for every other day of the week.

The first day of action will take place a week on Friday, when dozens of high-visibility police patrols will be out in force, particularly on roads with poor accident records.

Drivers caught flouting speed limits face being fast-tracked to court, a policy police have already used to great effect in targeting hooligan bikers.

Special attention will be given to speeding, seatbelt use, drink-driving, unroadworthy vehicles and any other aspect of motoring that can cause accidents.

The remaining designated Fridays are: August 19, October 14, December 9, February 3 and March 31.

The move comes after several North Yorkshire groups, including the police, Highways Agency and fire and rescue agency formed the "95 Alive" road safety partnership.

The name represents their target of reducing fatalities by one third compared to the average between 1999 and 2003 - saving a potential 95 lives over five years from 2005.

David Lindsay, North Yorkshire County Council's road safety officer, welcomed the move. He said Fridays were thought to be the worst for accidents for a number of reasons including extra traffic, tired drivers and people setting out on longer journeys.

"The police and the county council are in total agreement on the positive effect of road traffic enforcement. There is a lot of poor driving out there and that quite often leads to people being killed or injured. We want people to take responsibility for their driving."

Pete Zanzottera, road safety officer for City of York Council, said: "It would be crazy if we did not support this.

"People often think accidents are caused by roads or the weather, but actually 97 per cent are caused by human error, in the most part excessive or inappropriate speed."

Assistant Chief Constable David Collins said: "There is no point in setting low targets. It is our duty to put all our energies into aiming for the best possible result, and that is a series of casualty-free days."

Meanwhile the top ten of most dangerous roads in North Yorkshire has been revealed. The one designated the most hazardous is the A64 at Bilbrough Top, between York and Tadcaster. An £11 million flyover was opened there last week following a major Evening Press campaign.

:: North Yorkshire's most dangerous roads

A64 at Bilbrough Top, near York (23 accidents)

A165 Valley Bridge Parade, Scarborough (24 accidents)

A1 northbound slip road at Leeming (17 accidents)

A59 Devonshire Place, Harrogate (14 accidents)

Station Parade, Harrogate (15 accidents)

A629 Kildwick roundabout, near Skipton (14 accidents)

B1364 Castle Road, Scarborough (14 accidents)

A64 Seamer Road, Scarborough (14 accidents)

A19 Ousegate junction, Selby (15 accidents)

A59/A6069 Broughton Road, Skipton (12 accidents)

Based on North Yorkshire County Council figures. Accidents were between 2000 and 2002.

Updated: 09:22 Thursday, June 16, 2005