A SPEED camera in Bournemouth caught an average of more than 80 drivers a week breaking the 40mph limit.
The camera covering the westbound carriageway of the A338 Wessex Way towards the Richmond Hill roundabout recorded 4,554 speeding motorists in the 12 months to the end of September 2021.
This was the most speeders caught in a single location across Dorset over this period by a significant margin, with the next highest being the 40mph camera on the opposite side of the Wessex Way, which logged 2,897 offences.
A Dorset Police traffic officer said driving at excessive speed puts the driver and other road users at an increased risk of collision.
The figures, obtained by the Daily Echo through an Freedom of Information Act request, relate to activations resulting in police issuing a notice of intended prosecution. They do not include cancelled offences.
The top speed recorded on the two Wessex Way cameras was 80mph and 81mph, respectively – double the limit along the stretch of road.
Other camera locations in the county to record more than 1,000 speeding offences in the 12-month period were on the A35 near Miles Cross, Bridport, the A35 Chideock and the A351 Sandford Road.
Police Inspector Craig Tatton, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: “Road safety is a force priority and we will continue to ensure that people are driving safely and within the law.
“Our Roads Policing Team operates seven days a week to tackle the five biggest killers on our roads known as the fatal five. These are: drink and drug driving, excessive and inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distractions such as using a hand-held mobile phone and dangerous/careless driving.
“Driving at excessive speed not only puts yourself in danger, but it also endangers other road users and increases the risk of a collision occurring. The consequences of any collision are also likely to be more significant if the speeds involved are higher."
Across the 15 speed cameras which recorded the most offences, two clocked drivers travelling over 100mph.
One motorist was caught at 107mph on the A35 near Miles Cross and another was caught at 105mph on the Puddletown Bypass.
“Our safety camera team works on a four-weekly rota of deployment based on collisions and complaints from the public," said Inspector Tatton.
“We are grateful for the assistance we receive from hundreds of Community Speed Watch volunteers who support us in keeping Dorset’s roads safe.
“We also now make greater use of social media platforms and other technology to educate the public and get our road safety messaging across.
“Further information can be found at dorset.police.uk or on the No Excuse or Dorset Traffic Police Facebook and Twitter accounts.”
The 15 Dorset speed camera locations with the most offences from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021
1) A338 Wessex Way westbound, Dean Park, Bournemouth
- Offences: 4,554
- Speed limit: 40mph
- Top speed recorded: 80mph
2) A338 Wessex Way eastbound, Dean Park, Bournemouth
- Offences: 2,897
- Speed limit: 40mph
- Top speed recorded: 81mph
3) A35 Near Miles Cross, Bridport
- Offences: 2,336
- Speed limit: 50mph
- Top speed recorded: 107mph
4) A35 Chideock
- Offences: 1,557
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 53mph
5) A351 Sandford Road, Sandford
- Offences: 1,320
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 67mph
6) A35 Winterbourne Abbas
- Offences: 1,110
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 54mph
7) A35 Barrack Road, Christchurch
- Offences: 1039
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 56mph
8) A338 Blackwater to Cooper Dean (average speed camera)
- Offences: 981
- Speed limit: 50mph
- Top speed recorded: 88mph
9) A347 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth
- Offences: 942
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 53mph
10) A3049 Dorset Way, Poole
- Offences: 789
- Speed limit: 50mph
- Top speed recorded: 92mph
11) Wareham Rd, Corfe Mullen
- Offences: 785
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 53mph
12) C2 Ringwood Road, Wimborne
- Offences: 781
- Speed limit: 30mph
- Top speed recorded: 52mph
13) A31, Ringwood Road, St Leonards
- Offences: 737
- Speed limit: 50mph
- Top speed recorded: 94mph
14) A35 Puddletown Bypass
- Offences: 695
- Speed limit: 70mph
- Top speed recorded: 105mph
15) A3049 Dorset Way, Poole
- Offences: 684
- Speed limit: 50mph
- Top speed recorded: 97mph
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel