Pupils at a Bradford school are the driving force behind a new scheme aimed at cracking down on speeding motorists.

Young people from Nab Wood School, in Cottingley, including Irshaad Khalifa, pictured, donned fluorescent jackets and joined police officers to pull over drivers in Toller Lane, Heaton.

They were given the chance to use speed cameras and spoke to motorists about the launch of the ROADS (Reduce Our Accidents, Decrease Speed) campaign.

And in just 45 minutes, 28 motorists, out of a possible 238, were caught speeding.

PC Richard Berry, the school's community liaison officer, said he was amazed more than ten per cent of cars passing the high-visibility group were speeding.

"It's very scary that even when there are two officers and a group of 11 all in reflective jackets that people still speed," he said.

"We're all so used to getting into our cars and being in our own space that we don't think about what's going on around us."

As members of the Young Citizens' Panel, set up and supported by West Yorkshire Police in October 2001, the students are among 200 members from various backgrounds across the county who are running the project.

Student Saqlain Shah, 14, said he was inspired to help highlight the issue of dangerous driving after seeing a fellow pupil injured in a hit-and-run accident in Toller Lane.

"This is our community as well and we want to say to drivers that we are aware of the dangers of speeding and they should be too," he said. "We are checking speed limits and encouraging drivers to stay within the 30 mph limit.

"At 40mph there's a 90 per cent chance that someone a car hits will die, but at 20mph there's a 90 per cent chance that they will survive."

Hamzah Khan, 14, said Toller Lane was chosen as many pupils from Heaton used that route to get to school on the bus.

"It's a very dangerous stretch of road and when drivers are speeding it can be very difficult to cross," he said.

Motorist Zulfiquar Ahmed, 48, said it was encouraging to see young people taking an active role in fighting crime.

"There are a lot of crazy drivers on our roads these days and many drivers don't have a thought for others," said the 48-year-old baker, of Heaton.

"It's a great idea to see the youngsters leading this campaign and I hope it achieves something."

Random vehicles were pulled over and students also gave out leaflets, which they made themselves, aimed at encouraging drivers to slow down.

PC Berry said he was impressed with the young people's commitment to working with the community in the fight against crime.

"It is vital for the public and the students that these young people are seen out and about in their community highlighting this issue," he said.

"It shows they're part of the community and doing something like this shows them that they are valued as well as giving them tremendous confidence."

Detective Chief Superintendent Grahame Bullock, head of the force's community safety, said it was important to listen to young people's views.

"Young people are often much maligned but they do have an important voice and by involving them in this it's going to be particularly impactive," he said.

Other schools in Bradford and West Yorkshire, which have registered Young Citizens' Panels, will be taking part in similar exercises.