ADUK Archive

Overtake ban to be brought in on danger ‘TT’ road

Oct 12 2007 by Sam Beattie, Evening Gazette

OVERTAKING is about to be banned on one of North Yorkshire’s deadliest roads.

The snaking B1257 between Stokesley and Helmsley has been dubbed the Helmsley TT by locals after becoming a cult run in biking circles.

Riders meet to thunder down the 20-mile rural route at three-figure speeds and even post shocking films of their white-knuckle rides on the internet.

Its accident record is so bad, North Yorkshire County Council now says it is “essential” something is done and has decided to outlaw overtaking anywhere along the road.

Three motorcyclists have already been killed on the route this year and several more have been injured.

But that hasn’t stopped bikers filming themselves screaming down the lethal stretch at breakneck speeds and posting the videos on home-movie websites, including You Tube.

One video shows a biker narrowly escaping a high-speed, head-on collision with a car while travelling at an estimated 90mph.

On the same site, bikers swap messages about the “Helmsley TT”.

One Teesside biker, who didn’t want to be named, told the Gazette: “It’s a wicked road. It’s good for scraping, getting your knees down, which is the term for leaning the bike over on corners.”

The B1257 has long been a target of police safety campaigns.

After the double white lines are painted next week, anyone caught overtaking could be given three penalty points and a £60 fine. They could also be fined £1,000 in court and banned from driving.

North Yorkshire Police said it welcomes the move.

For a fortnight beginning on Monday the route will be closed in four sections while work is carried out.

Diversions and information about access will be available from Highways staff who will be stationed on the road.

Overtake ban to be brought in on danger ‘TT’ road

After the double white lines are painted next week, anyone caught overtaking could be given three penalty points and a £60 fine. They could also be fined £1,000 in court and banned from driving.

PeterE wrote:After the double white lines are painted next week, anyone caught overtaking could be given three penalty points and a £60 fine. They could also be fined £1,000 in court and banned from driving.