MORE than one driver a minute was caught for speeding in a police clampdown in Dorchester.

A total of 172 drivers were fined after being targeted in a two-and-a-half hour operation.

Dorchester police boss Inspector Les Fry said he was ‘disappointed’ so many were caught in such a short time and he urged drivers to stick to limits.

Checkpoints were set up in Herringston Road – frequently used by drivers as a short-cut towards Weymouth – and the Poundbury ‘link road’ Middle Farm Way which has been the subject of speed checks in the past.

Both roads carry a speed limit of 30mph. Fixed penalty notices of £60 were issued to drivers breaking the limit. In addition to the speeders, 12 drivers were slapped with a fixed penalty ticket for not wearing a seatbelt and six for using a mobile phone while driving. They were caught by officers in Dorchester town centre.

The operation was part of Dorset Road Safe’s No Excuse campaign to tackle bad driving and make roads safer.

Dorset Road Safe is made up of different partners including the emergency services and the county council.

Dorchester and Sherborne Neighbourhood Inspector Les Fry said of the clampdown on Monday: “Reducing road traffic collisions remains a key priority and this operation was aimed at the ‘fatal four’ factors that contribute to collisions – drink driving, excess speed, using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

“It’s disappointing that so many were caught committing offences which could have put themselves and other road users at risk. I hope our continuing enforcement sends the message to drivers not to take these risks.” Twelve speeders were caught in Herringston Road with the rest pulled over at Poundbury.

But the operation has also prompted a community leader in Poundbury to call for a rethink on the speed limit. Chairman of Poundbury Residents’ Association Margaret Morrissey said she didn’t think speeding was a major issue on the estate and called for a rethink on the speed limit at Middle Farm Way which she described as a bypass.

Mrs Morrissey said the road goes downhill towards Dorchester which catches people out.

She added: “While we don’t advocate people bombing through here and it’s absolutely right that police stop people breaking the law, I think we need to be realistic about the speed limit.

“Part of me says it should be 40mph. I don’t think people drive dangerously in Middle Farm Way and I would be interested to know what speeds people were travelling when they were caught.”

Insp Fry said he didn’t have that information available.

It was originally proposed that Middle Farm Way would carry a 40mph but safety concerns prompted a rethink. Joy Scadden who owns Sunny Days Nursery in Poundbury said 30mph was plenty.

She said: “It’s a nice sweep of a road and it’s so easy to put your foot down but I think it’s wise to keep it at 30mph.

“More development is expected along there which means more young families.”

As part of the operation in Sherborne, officers stopped 10 drivers for speeding and one person using a phone at the wheel. One driver was also arrested for drink driving.