Enhancing road safety is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and I am working with Dorset Police to ensure they use all tools at their disposal to keep dangerous drivers off our roads.

Last week was Community Speed Watch Action Week. It is a road safety initiative that involves members of the public volunteering to highlight the risks of speeding in their towns and villages.

Dorset now has more than 1,272 volunteers across more than 80 teams acting as trained eyes and ears on the ground. Every volunteer is a valuable asset who helps reduce road casualties.

Across seven days, volunteers monitored 15,700 vehicles of which 2.5% were exceeding the speed limit, resulting in 387 warning letters being issued. One motorist was even recorded driving at 55mph in a 30mph zone.

Volunteers provide a visible presence which in itself, leads cars to slow down and if a driver comes to the volunteers’ attention numerous times, there are avenues for stronger enforcement by Dorset Police.

Indeed, Dorset Police were out and about during the week of action and police camera teams recorded some 200 speed and other motoring offences that are now being processed.

From the dedication of Community Speed Watch volunteers to our Interceptor team and serious collision officers, road policing in Dorset is a model admired by other forces across the country, thanks to the positive results we are seeing year after year.

I was delighted to be able to attend the Community Speed Watch conference at the beginning of October, where Dorset Police celebrated the efforts of volunteers and reflected on how the scheme will progress in the future.

I am constantly exploring all options available to reduce the risk of harm to everyone using Dorset’s roads, such as lobbying government for tougher sanctions to impose on anti-social motorists.

I hope Dorset Police, partner agencies and our volunteers continue working effectively together to prevent avoidable deaths on our roads.

David Sidwick

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner