MORE than 10,000 offences have been committed on Dorset’s roads in the first six months of a major driver safety crackdown.

Figures from the first half of the county-wide No Excuse campaign show that speeding, not wearing seatbelts and using mobile phones are the most commonly detected offences.

Drivers caught endangering lives over the past month include a woman who was talking on her mobile phone while driving through Weymouth.

She went through two pedestrian crossings and two roundabouts and failed to see a police car flashing her.

Speeding drivers on Chickerell Road in Weymouth also failed to spot a police officer pointing a speed gun at them.

Head of Dorset Police special operations Chief Inspector Bob Nichols said: “Some 10,000 detections in six months by the dedicated No Excuse team alone shows very clearly that there continues to be an unacceptable number of motorists who are prepared to risk their own lives and those of others by refusing to comply with laws designed to prevent tragedies.”

Around 21 per cent of the total offences detected by the Dorset Road Safe partnership project are for not buckling up. More than 680 people were caught using their mobile phones while driving.

Other offences dealt with include driving with no insurance, no licence and no MoT. These resulted in vehicles being seized.

Speeding is a major problem in Chickerell Road, says John Pearce, owner of Alf’s Fish and Chips, who has welcomed the crackdown.

He said: “It’s particularly a problem at night with youths speeding. They go through the red lights and they just take off like maniacs.”

Dorset County Council’s road safety manager Robert Smith said: “Many more drivers are realising that they could be caught for bad or careless driving anywhere, anytime in Dorset and are paying much more attention to their driving.

* The No Excuse campaign was launched in January in a bid to reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents on Dorset’s roads.

Extra officers and speed cameras have been targeting collision hot spots to clamp down on motorists who are speeding, using mobile phones, not wearing seatbelts and drink-driving.

No Excuse is led by Dorset Road Safe, a partnership including Dorset Police, Dorset County Council, Dorset Fire and Rescue, and Dorset Safety Camera Partnership.