NORTH Yorkshire police are looking at ways of improving road safety after soaring deaths rates - with three fatalities in the last week alone.

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan says a survey of 2,500 residents found three quarters are increasingly concerned and want action through enforcement and education.

The force could now introduce more speed camera vans.

Three people died in two road collisions on the A19 in the past seven days. One at Thimbleby, near Northallerton, involved a lorry and a crop sprayer while the other at Tollerton, near Easingwold, involved a bus and car.

Last year 51 people died on the county's roads, a rise of 60 per cent over the previous year and the highest figure for seven years.

Sixteen of those killed were motorcyclists while the number of elderly who died almost doubled from six to 11. Those seriously injured fell slightly from 442 to 425.

The increase in the death rate is set against a national fall of two per cent.

Mrs Mulligan said the executive board of North Yorkshire Police is examining the situation and the survey results and they’re expected to announce new initiatives to tackle the problem in the next week.

She said over half those quizzed in the survey felt the police should have more enforcement capability or would support an increase in the number of mobile camera safety vans.

The authority has three mobile cameras and between April and September last year the force issued 23,595 tickets - around 134 a day - with 19,600 of those opting for a speed awareness course.

She said other survey findings showed some form of community speed watch would be welcomed, as would more flexibility and lower costs for driver education courses. Current courses in North Yorkshire cost around £93.

"I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to complete my road safety survey. It is vitally important that I learn how the public feels about important issues such as this, so that I can make sure that community priorities are reflected in the decisions we take," said Mrs Mulligan.

"The survey shows loud and clear that residents want more done about road safety, and the fact that we have had several very serious traffic accidents in the area in just the past 10 days underlines the need for action.

“The Executive Board of North Yorkshire Police will meet to confirm proposals to address road safety, and we will be taking the views expressed in the survey into full account. Part of our discussions will include increasing the level of enforcement capacity in the police.”