ROGUE motorists were targeted during a police crackdown in Dorchester.

Running late for a job interview was among the excuses made by offending drivers during the police operation, Officers were out in force in the county town for a day-long operation that saw nearly 80 motorists pulled up and questioned over a variety of offences.

Operation Indri, part of Dorset Road Safe’s ‘No Excuse’ campaign, saw police targeting drivers in a bid to improve road safety.

Officers were out on foot as well as in patrol cars to detect and deal with any offences that could put drivers or other road users at risk.

The operation saw 18 people stopped for not wearing a seatbelt and a further 32 motorists were pulled over for using a mobile phone.

Officers from Dorchester police and Dorset Police’s traffic department also issued 28 fixed penalty notices for speeding, with a number of the motorists recommended for the Drivers Awareness Scheme.

Police insist there will be no hiding place for irresponsible drivers and have to continue targeting anyone who may pose a danger on the roads.

Excuses given to police ranged from being late for a job interview to being capable of driving safely while using a mobile phone.

Inspector Les Fry of Dorchester police said: “These results are disappointing as clearly many motorists are not learning that it is dangerous to speed, use a mobile phone or not wear a seatbelt when driving.

“This operation has sent out a very positive message that we are committed to continuing reducing road casualties across the Dorchester area.”

All drivers stopped were handed a leaflet to reinforce the message of the police campaign.

Police in the county town carried out two similar exercises last year – with an operation in September pulling up 23 drivers and another in November catching out 33 motorists.

The ‘no excuse’ campaign was launched by the Dorset Road Safe partnership in January last year in a bid to tackle the rising number of casualties on the county’s roads.

The campaign has focused on driver distraction, the use of seatbelts, excessive speed and impairment through drink or drugs.

Over 20,000 motoring offences have now been published since the campaign was launched, including 3,328 in the first three months of this year and more than 1,000 during April.