ROAD SAFETY bosses are to focus on cutting the tragic toll of biker deaths on North Yorkshire's roads, as they seek to meet tough targets for cutting accidents.

Twenty-eight bikers have died on North Yorkshire's roads so far this year, a record number.

Members of North Yorkshire County Council will on Wednesday debate the council's new draft plan - which aims to cut numbers killed or seriously injured on the roads from 838 last year to no more than 680 by 2006.

The plan states: "The executive has recognised that it would also reflect widespread concern if the plan made explicit reference to the need to reduce motorcycle deaths."

County road safety officer David Lindsey said: "All options are open. We have tried a number of things over the years to reduce the numbers of motorcyclists dying, it is not an easy problem to find a solution for.

"The Bikesafe educational approach, where police offered observed riding, had some success, but appealed to the converted.

"There are a number of bikers out there who choose to deliberately break the law. How to appeal to them is unclear to us at this stage."

More discussions would take place between road safety chiefs and the police to decide on a strategy for cutting the death toll, said Mr Lindsey told the Press.

North Yorkshire Police spokesman Ron Johnson said the force would welcome any initiative to tackle North Yorkshire's road safety problems.

Acting Sergeant Andrew Langford said: "We would back this to the hilt.

"There is work still to be done and we need to sit down and work out the detail, but we welcome anything that assists with the reduction of all casualties, from deaths through to minor injuries," said Sgt Langford.

Jason Weston, who has been a biker for 17 years and works at the popular biker meeting point, Squire's Caf Bar, at Newthorpe, Sherburn-in-Elmet, also backed the road safety push.

"Bikers would support this. Everyone wants to see safer roads," he said.

The draft plan will be debated at the county council's annual meeting, at County Hall, Northallerton, from 10.30am on Wednesday.

Updated: 10:39 Friday, October 17, 2003