A speed camera set up in west Dorset caught an average of more than 44 drivers a week breaking the speed limit - with a total 2,336 offences in a year.

The camera near the Miles Cross junction just outside Bridport was one of three along the A35 in the west of the county to record more than 1,000 speeding offences in a 12-month period.

The others at Chideock (fixed camera) and Winterbourne Abbas caught 1,557 and 1,110 speeding motorists respectively.

Dorset Echo:

Along the stretch of the A35 near Miles Cross where the camera team were set up the speed limit is 50mph with the highest speed clocked at 107mph.

The most speeders caught in a single location in Dorset was at the A338 Wessex Way, Dean Park, Bournemouth, with 4,554 offences in the 40mph limit area - where 80mph was the highest speed recorded.

The next highest was the 40mph camera on the opposite side of the Wessex Way in Bournemouth, which logged 2,897 offences.

A Dorset Police traffic officer said driving at excessive speed puts the driver and other road users at an increased risk of collision.

The figures, obtained by the Echo through an Freedom of Information Act request, relate to activations resulting in police issuing a notice of intended prosecution. They do not include cancelled offences.

The top speed recorded on the two Wessex Way cameras was 80mph and 81mph, respectively – double the limit along the stretch of road.

Dorset Echo:

Other camera locations in the county to record more than 1,000 speeding offences in the 12-month period were on the A351 Sandford Road and the A35 Barrack Road, Christchurch.

Inspector Craig Tatton, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: “Road safety is a force priority and we will continue to ensure that people are driving safely and within the law.

“Our Roads Policing Team operates seven days a week to tackle the five biggest killers on our roads known as the fatal five. These are: drink and drug driving, excessive and inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distractions such as using a hand-held mobile phone and dangerous/careless driving.

“Driving at excessive speed not only puts yourself in danger, but it also endangers other road users and increases the risk of a collision occurring. The consequences of any collision are also likely to be more significant if the speeds involved are higher."

Across the 15 speed cameras which recorded the most offences, two clocked drivers travelling over 100mph.

One motorist was caught at 107mph on the A35 near Miles Cross and another was caught at 105mph on the Puddletown Bypass.

“Our safety camera team works on a four-weekly rota of deployment based on collisions and complaints from the public," said Inspector Tatton.

“We are grateful for the assistance we receive from hundreds of Community Speed Watch volunteers who support us in keeping Dorset’s roads safe.

“We also now make greater use of social media platforms and other technology to educate the public and get our road safety messaging across.

“Further information can be found at dorset.police.uk or on the No Excuse or Dorset Traffic Police Facebook and Twitter accounts.”

The 15 Dorset speed camera locations with the most offences from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021

1) A338 Wessex Way, Dean Park, Bournemouth (below)

  • Offences: 4,554
  • Speed limit: 40mph
  • Top speed recorded: 80mph

Dorset Echo:

2) A338 Wessex Way, Dean Park, Bournemouth

  • Offences: 2,897
  • Speed limit: 40mph
  • Top speed recorded: 81mph

3) A35 Near Miles Cross, Bridport

  • Offences: 2,336
  • Speed limit: 50mph
  • Top speed recorded: 107mph

4) A35 Chideock

  • Offences: 1,557
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 53mph

5) A351 Sandford Road, Sandford

  • Offences: 1,320
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 67mph

6) A35 Winterbourne Abbas

  • Offences: 1,110
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 54mph

7) A35 Barrack Road, Christchurch

  • Offences: 1039
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 56mph

8) A338 Blackwater to Cooper Dean (average speed camera)

  • Offences: 981
  • Speed limit: 50mph
  • Top speed recorded: 88mph

9) A347 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth

  • Offences: 942
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 53mph

10) A3049 Dorset Way, Poole

  • Offences: 789
  • Speed limit: 50mph
  • Top speed recorded: 92mph

11) Wareham Rd, Corfe Mullen

  • Offences: 785
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 53mph

12) C2 Ringwood Road, Wimborne

  • Offences: 781
  • Speed limit: 30mph
  • Top speed recorded: 52mph

13) A31, Ringwood Road, St Leonards

  • Offences: 737
  • Speed limit: 50mph
  • Top speed recorded: 94mph

14) A35 Puddletown Bypass

  • Offences: 695
  • Speed limit: 70mph
  • Top speed recorded: 105mph

15) A3049 Dorset Way, Poole

  • Offences: 684
  • Speed limit: 50mph
  • Top speed recorded: 97mph