Road safety: Keeping Dorset moving safely
Over the summer, Dorset has been a busy place with visitors and residents wanting to enjoy our beautiful coastline and countryside. With every trip out, road traffic increases and this week, I would like to update you on some of the work that happened over the summer to make Dorsets roads safer.
The reality is that the vast majority of serious collisions are preventable. Every person killed or seriously injured on our roads is someone's parent, child, partner, friend or colleague. Behind every statistic is a family whose lives have been turned upside down in an instant. I have heard first-hand from victims just how life-changing a road traffic collision can be, and my thoughts are always with those who have lost loved ones or continue to live with the devastating consequences of a collision.
As Police and Crime Commissioner, I have consistently supported a robust approach to tackling those who put others at risk. Dorset is a largely rural county with a unique road network that brings its own challenges, from fast rural roads to seasonal tourism pressures. I work closely with Dorset Police, local councils and our wider road safety partners through the Dorset Strategic Road Safety Partnership to reduce harm and improve behaviour on our roads.
The small minority of drivers who choose to speed, drive under the influence of drink or drugs, or ignore the rules of the road create unnecessary danger for everyone else. They should expect to be stopped and dealt with by Dorset Police. The force runs a number of specific road policing operations, including Op Tramline, which targets HGV drivers using mobile phones; Op Close Pass, which targets unsafe manoeuvres by motorists passing cyclists or horse riders; and Op Snap, which allows members of the public to submit dashcam footage of unsafe driving, among others.
In July, officers carried out an iteration of Op Close Pass focusing on drivers passing horse riders, with the help of the Rural Mounted Volunteers. In a short period, seven motorists were stopped and given roadside education on how to safely pass a horse. In addition, one driver was handed six points and a £300 fine for driving without insurance.
Police operations like this are just one way the force is working to keep Dorset's roads safe. In Dorset, we also have more than 1,300 Community Speed Watch volunteers working to tackle speeding across the county by monitoring vehicle speeds in their local communities. These volunteers give up their own time to help deter speeding and make their communities safer.
The team in Dorset operates a three-letter system, which sees drivers sent a letter if they are recorded travelling above the speeding threshold. The first letter is a simple acknowledgement, letting the driver know they have been seen speeding. The second is a more strongly worded warning, while the third is hand-delivered by a uniformed officer. This gives police the opportunity to speak to the speeding motorist in person and provide advice about the dangers of speeding.
Both Dorset Police and our Community Speed Watch volunteers are working hard to tackle those driving dangerously on Dorset's roads, but enforcement alone isn't enough. To truly make Dorset's roads safer for everyone who uses them, we need effective education that encourages behaviour change and helps prevent offences from happening in the first place.
My office has worked with the charity DocBike to support the NextGen Riders Course, a two-day programme aimed at riders aged 16-35 that focuses on improving rider skills, maintenance knowledge and hazard awareness. I have also sponsored the provision of first aid kits for attendees of Biker Down courses, equipping members of the public with the tools, skills and confidence to provide immediate, potentially life-saving assistance at the scene of a collision until emergency services arrive.
Keeping Dorset safe isn't just the responsibility of the police - it's something we all play a part in. By making sensible decisions, we can help ensure everyone gets home safely.
David Sidwick
Police and Crime Commissioner for Dorset