Dorset Roads Policing

02/11/2026

Poor vision costs lives. Eighteen people were killed by drivers with defective eyesight in 2025. All motorists are required to meet minimum legal eyesight standards every time they get behind the wheel.

23/10/2026

🌧️ Wet Weather Driving: Take Extra Care 🌧️

Heavy rain and standing water can make driving conditions much more challenging.

✅ Leave more time for your journey and avoid rushing.
✅ Slow down and increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front.
✅ Watch out for standing water, which can cause your tyres to lose grip on the road.
✅ Use dipped headlights when visibility is reduced.
✅ Ensure your tyres and windscreen wipers are in good condition.
✅ Avoid sudden braking, steering or acceleration.

Road conditions can change quickly during wet weather, and it takes longer to stop on wet roads.

A few extra minutes could make all the difference. Slow down, drive to the conditions, and arrive safely.

19/10/2026

🚔 Excess Speed – Middle Farm Way, Dorchester

Officers from the No Excuse Team were carrying out speed checks on Middle Farm Way, Dorchester, following community concerns about excessive speed.

During the checks, a delivery driver was detected travelling at 49mph in a 30mph zone. The driver stated that they thought the speed limit was 40mph, which would still have been above the legal limit.

Another driver stopped for speeding explained that they were running late for a driver awareness course they were attending following a previous speeding offence. They asked whether being on their way to the course would make a difference. Unfortunately, it did not.

In a short space of time, nine drivers were caught exceeding the speed limit.

Excessive speed is one of the leading contributing factors in road traffic collisions. Speed limits are there for a reason, and even a few miles per hour over the limit can have serious consequences.

Please slow down, drive responsibly and help keep our roads safe.

17/10/2026

What do you think?

We continue to see unsafe and illegal parking around schools across Dorset. This puts children and other pedestrians at risk.

What do you think are the main reasons drivers park illegally during school drop-off and pick-up times?

17/10/2026

VEHICLE SAFETY

The van pictured was stopped by our No Excuse team on the Dorset Way today after it was found to have no working rear brake lights.

This is a serious safety concern. Without functioning brake lights, drivers travelling behind may not realise the vehicle is slowing down or stopping, increasing the risk of a collision.

The driver stated that they had the replacement bulbs in their possession and were ready to fit them. While it is positive that they intended to rectify the issue, having replacement bulbs ready does not make a vehicle safe to drive with defective brake lights.

⚠️ Remember to carry out your FLOWER checks before setting off:

F – Fuel: Ensure you have enough fuel for your journey.

L – Lights: Check that all lights are clean, working correctly and visible, including headlights, indicators, brake lights and rear lights.

O – Oil: Check your engine oil level and top up if necessary.

W – Water: Check engine coolant and screenwash levels, and ensure your windscreen is clean.

E – Electrics: Check your battery, dashboard warning lights and other electrical systems.

R – Rubber: Inspect your tyres for damage, adequate tread depth and correct pressure.

These simple checks can help identify potential problems before they become a danger to you and other road users.

15/10/2026

13/10/2026

Zebra Crossings

Zebra crossings are designed to help pedestrians cross the road safely, but they only work when everyone follows the rules.

✅ Slow down when approaching a zebra crossing.

✅ Be prepared to stop if someone is waiting to cross.

✅ You must give away to pedestrians who have stepped onto the crossing.

✅ Never overtake the vehicle nearest the crossing.

✅ Keep the zig-zag markings clear.

Parking or stopping on zig zag markings is an offence. You could receive 3 points and a £100 fine. More importantly, blocking the zig zags can prevent drivers and pedestrians seeing each other, significantly increasing the risk of a collision.

01/10/2026

Do you check your tyres to make sure they are safe? 🚗

You should inspect the tyres on your vehicle at least once a month and before any long journey. Checks should include:
✅ Air pressure
✅ Condition (lumps, bumps and other objects)
✅ Tread depth

If your tyres aren’t up to scratch, you could face a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.



For more information on how to keep your tyres safe, please follow the link in the comments below ⬇️

01/10/2026

On Saturday, our Casualty Reduction Team, alongside our partners from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and BCP Council Road Safety, attended the Bournemouth Fresher’s event.

It was great to meet so many students and welcome them to Bournemouth. We spoke about a range of important road safety topics, including:

- The dangers of impaired driving
- The safe use of e-mobility devices
- Learning to drive safely
- Planning a safe journey home after a night out
- The importance of being visible when walking or cycling
- And much more to help keep students and other road users safe

Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us. We hope you have a great time in Bournemouth and, most importantly, stay safe on our roads.

30/09/2026

Have you booked onto our next Mature Drivers Seminar?

It is open to everyone - all ages are welcome.

If you are a mature driver and want to improve your fitness to drive or you have an older relative whose driving you are concerned about, please come along.

Join us for a free road safety event aimed at keeping mature drivers safer on the road for longer.

Register your interest by emailing [email protected] to attend either a morning or afternoon session on Wednesday 7 October 2026 at The Allendale Community Centre in Wimborne.