WEST DORSET: No excuses for drivers caught in safety campaign

The road safety exercise launched in mid-January to reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents in the county is aimed at motorists who commit a number of everyday offences including speeding, using mobile phones and not wearing seat belts.

The police are also targeting vehicles without an MOT or insurance as well as people driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Almost 3000 people were killed and 28,000 seriously injured on UK roads in 2007

Led by Dorset Police and the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership a number of “hotspots” such as the A35 Puddletown by-pass and the A31 are being carefully monitored by high visibility teams or covert operations such as roadside camera vans in a bid to make drivers more aware of their presence and the consequences of breaking the law.

Of those convicted so far, 1,000 were caught exceeding the speed limit, whilst another 250 were caught using their mobile phones illegally. A total of over 300 were stopped for not wearing a seat belt.

Offenders are subject to a £60 fixed penalty fine and points added to their driving licence or in some cases offered the option of a “Driver Awareness Course.”

The course run at Winfrith or Bournemouth involves a morning of education and discussion on the effects of how these offences can cause an accident as well as awareness of driving situations and how to deal with them.

Dorset County Council’s head of road safety Robert Smith said it was not a “witch hunt” and that in most cases drivers will be offered the driver referral option.

He added: “I’m astonished that so many offences have been detected in such a short space of time.”

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