'Young drivers think they're invincible'

PC Jack Dodsworth from North Yorkshire Police talks to a teenage motorcyclist he pulled over in York

It's the worst part of the job for any traffic police officer - telling parents that their children have been killed in road accidents that could have been prevented.

Operation Spotlight is a North Yorkshire Police campaign that aims to educate young drivers and motorcyclists about risky and reckless behaviour.

Officers have been stopping those seen driving or riding erratically or dangerously and giving them advice rather than sending them straight to the courts.

"When you first get your driving licence, you think you are invincible. You think you are the best driver in the world," says PC Jack Dodsworth.

It was a love of cars that led PC Dodsworth to join the force's traffic unit four years ago, but in his short career he has seen "far too many" fatalities in collisions.

The BBC joined him on patrol in his unmarked Audi as he sought out the motorists he thinks are most at risk are being involved in an accident in a county with 6,000 miles (9,656km) of highways.

Operation Spotlight is a national campaign, but it is a priority in a county where there have been 15 collisions involving the death or serious injury of people aged 17 to 24 so far this year.

PC Dodsworth explains: "There are a number things we look for.

"It's the drivers you can tell are inexperienced; they will go into bends too fast, they'll brake on bends, they'll misjudge the layout of the road, be too quick into roundabouts.

"It is a "stop and engage"; we are not here to persecute people and end up in court, we want people to learn from talking to us."

PC Jack Dodsworth has been with North Yorkshire Police for eight years, four of them with the road traffic division

On the way from Thirsk to York, 18-year-old hairdresser Jasmine has pulled over with a flat tyre on a dark stretch of the A19.

She's done everything right, but the road is a dangerous place to break down.

The spot is close to where PC Rosie Prior was killed while off-duty and helping motorists in January this year.

PC Dodsworth, who attended the aftermath of his colleague's death, turns on his blue flashing lights and illuminated warning sign, which keeps Jasmine safe while her tyre is changed.

Next stop is the Clifton Moor retail park in York, where young drivers are known to congregate.

A teenage motorcyclist is pulled over for driving erratically and getting too close to other vehicles.

PC Dodsworth tells him: "In the last couple of weeks, mate, I have been to a fatal involving a motorcycle where a young lad in his 20s has died.

"On a bike you are incredibly vulnerable and it's not just you you have to look out for, it's all the people around you who don't look for bikes on a night.

"Go careful, watch your riding and have a safe journey, alright?"

PC Dodsworth talks to a young biker he pulled over for speeding and driving without due care and attention

Next PC Dodsworth stops a souped-up Seat with a huge exhaust. Its front headlights are too dim.

The two young men inside exchange friendly banter with the officer. The passenger is filming the encounter on his phone.

PC Dodsworth tells them: "We do a lot of fatal collisions involving modified vehicles or where the driver's ability isn't quite there and they end up crashing.

"What I don't want to happen is for you guys to end up in a bump, you end up dead, you kill your mate, whatever."

They have a 15-minute chat and the 19-year-old driver says he will get the lights repaired.

Afterwards PC Dodsworth grins and says he doesn't mind being filmed by them.

"Perhaps that was for educational purposes, perhaps he'll watch it back and hopefully he'll share that with his friends.

"If he posts that to social media that's also getting the message out there," he says.

Lewis, 20, talks to BBC reporter Olivia Richwald after he is pulled over by police

Later another driver and two more motorcyclists are stopped. One biker whose rear light was white, rather than red, is just 16 and has only just started riding.

PC Dodsworth hopes their encounter will educate the youngster and prevent his confidence escalating into casual risk.

The other, 20-year-old Lewis, illegally overtakes the unmarked police vehicle at 15 miles above the speed limit. His L-plate has fallen off.

PC Dodsworth tells him: "You're not going to end up at court, I want you to learn from this.

"I have been to a lot of motorbike fatals and a lot of serious injury collisions as well.

"It is the worst thing in the world and the most heartbreaking thing to do, to go to a family and say someone is seriously injured or dead."

Lewis is fully engaged in the late night, roadside conversation and afterwards tells me: "It was a nice way of putting things, don't be speeding, don't be an idiot.

"It only takes once doesn't it? I will buck up my ideas because next time there might not be a next time. You know what I am saying, it could be rough."

Lewis will get a traffic offence report for driving without due care and attention.

PC Dodsworth hopes the driver education course that Lewis has been offered will mean the young man will now travel more safely on the roads.

As he returns to base, a radio call comes in about a serious collision near Scarborough. The officer is ordered to attend the scene - a stark reminder of the reality of policing North Yorkshire's roads.

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