THERE was No Excuse for nearly 200 motorists caught yesterday during a crackdown on careless and reckless drivers.

A shamed pensioner caught on camera speeding at 95mph along the busy A338 Spur Road and a Christchurch businessman who had “forgotten” to fasten his seat belt were among those who ended up on the wrong side of the law.

Fourteen police officers took to the streets in marked and unmarked cars and motorbikes during Dorset Road Safe’s Bournemouth ‘Surround a Town’ operation; one of a series being staged across the county. Others are planned for Shaftesbury, Poole and Weymouth.

The Daily Echo accompanied enforcement team Sgt Lee Savage on patrol in an unmarked police car on the A338.

Within a matter of seconds he spotted a woman driver accelerating at speed in a silver Toyota Corolla estate. A check on his car’s video camera confirmed that the vehicle was travelling 25mph over the 70mph speed limit.

It took flashing lights, sirens and his horn to persuade the pensioner to pull into a lay-by.

She said: “I was in a rush but I didn’t realise I was going so fast. I just feel really stupid.”

The momentary lapse will cost her £60 and mean her licence will be endorsed with three penalty points.

A Bentley driver, suspected of using his mobile phone while behind the wheel, was offered the opportunity to take part in a driver awareness course or pay the price for failing to wear his seat belt.

Before shaking hands with Sgt Savage he said: “I’m happy to do the course. I’ve all the time in the world but I just forget to put my seat belt on.”

By 3pm 56 drivers had been detected for failing to belt up; 53 opted to attend a seat belt course at Bournemouth’s Streetwise centre.

Twenty motorists were caught speeding and 14 were observed using their mobile phones at the wheel. Five had no MOTs, one had no insurance and another had no licence leading to the seizure of two vehicles.

Chief Inspector Bob Nichols said: “We are targeting what we describe as the fatal four; distraction, speed, failure to wear seat belts and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“Motorists who opt for the driver awareness course pay £100 which is then ploughed back into enforcement action.”

He added: “Provisional figures show that 115 people have been killed or seriously injured on Dorset’s roads so far this year, compared with 140 during the same period in 2010.

“This downward trend underlines why the Dorset Road Safe partners are committed to the No Excuse campaign and is perhaps why public support has been so strong.”