The overall cost of the project is £800,000, of which the enforcement costs are self-funded through educational referral scheme fees. Funding has been committed to the project by a range of partners, with the county council dedicating £200,000 towards carefully targeted publicity and advertising campaigns over the course of the year.

The message going out loud and clear is that there is ‘no excuse’ for bad or careless driving and riding on Dorset’s roads. All drivers in Dorset, whether they live here or are one of a high number of tourists that visit the county, need to understand that if they break the law they are likely to be caught and prosecuted.

Throughout the year, routes with the highest casualty rates in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole will be targeted on a daily basis. Dorset Police, supported by the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, will be conducting additional, sustained, high-visibility policing and covert operations in order to crack down on the main types of driving behaviour that are known to result in fatal and serious injuries. Sometimes known as the ‘fatal four’, these are:

• Inappropriate speed
• Drink and drug driving
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Distractions, like using a mobile phone or changing a CD

Certain groups of road users have been identified as high priority for this project. They are:

• Car drivers (particularly younger drivers)
• Car passengers
• Motorcyclists

Some of the enforcement you will see but some, such as unmarked police cars and motorcycles, you won’t – unless you get caught.

Collisions on our roads are among the major causes of death in the community. Between 2002 and 2006, road death and serious injuries saw their greatest decline nationally. But in recent years in Dorset the reduction in road casualties has slowed and is now well below the national average. A major, combined effort is now needed to keep driving the figures down.

The number of single sites in Dorset where there are clusters of collisions that can be addressed through traditional engineering methods is gradually reducing. 

The ‘no excuse’ project will see all the key agencies involved in road safety in Dorset working closely together in a well co-ordinated campaign that will combine enforcement, education and publicity.

The county council is providing £200,000 of its Government reward grant funds towards a carefully targeted publicity and education programme.

Dorset Police and the Safety Camera Partnership are providing a dedicated team of officers and vehicles to undertake the additional enforcement measures require. Funding for this element is being met through the fees received by referrals to an education programme rather than penalty points being given for certain offences.

We all have a part to play in this effort and we hope that we can count on your support in achieving safer roads for everyone in Dorset.