TRAFFIC police on a day-long road safety crackdown stopped more than 60 drivers, including 35 driving without seatbelts, and 14 talking on mobiles.

The 10-hour ‘Surround a Town’ action last Wednesday saw officers patrolling the main roads to tackle motoring offences and bad driving.

Among those stopped were seven people speeding, one without an MOT, another without insurance, a learner without L-plates, as well as a driver drinking from a flask, and another chomping on a large roll.

Six more motorists were stopped and given advice on issues including tailgating and tinted windows.

Those caught not wearing their seatbelts were asked to attend a free seatbelt course, and drivers seen using their mobile phone or speeding were offered a future drivers' awareness course costing £110. These courses, held at Streetwise in Bournemouth that day, replace the traditional fine.

The day also included education for children, with Dorset Road Safe at Manorside Combined School talking to youngsters aged five to 12 about the importance of road and cycle safety.

While safer neighbourhood officers were stationed outside the school ready to offer words of advice to parents spotted parking on single yellow lines, in bus stops and on the zig zags when dropping their children off.

Children seen cycling to school without lights were also issued with free ones to keep them safe on the roads.

Inspector Matt Butler, from Dorset Police Traffic Section said: “Surround a Town brings together a number of initiatives to reduce road casualties. We target and educate vulnerable road users together with motorists committing road traffic offences that lead to increased casualties.

“We will continue to enforce all traffic offences in an attempt to keep Dorset road users safe.”

The figures from Surround A town initiative

  • 35 seatbelt offences, 7 speeding offences
  • 14 mobile phone offences 
  • 6 vehicles were stopped and given words of advice in relation to various issues such as tailgating and tinted windows
  • 2 vehicles were stopped as the drivers were deemed to not be in complete control of their vehicle – one was drinking from a flask and one was eating a large roll – words of advice were given to both drivers
  • 1 vehicle was stopped and found to have no valid MOT
  • 1 vehicle was stopped and the driver was found to have no insurance
  • 1 vehicle was stopped as the driver was a learner and not displaying ‘L’ plates