RECKLESS motorists in Purbeck are being targeted by police in a drive to reduce accidents.
Plain-clothed officers are monitoring speeding drivers and moped riders who zoom around the centres of Upton, Wareham and Swanage.
They say with more visitors to the area over the summer and people staying out later due to the longer evenings, there is a higher chance of accidents.
Inspector Ashley Adams, section commander for Purbeck, said: "We have caught offenders performing reckless and unnecessary acts - screeching brakes and using small roads as circuits for a cruise.
"We won't accept this type of behaviour.
"It disturbs local residents and even though some are not breaking the speed limit, their driving behaviour is inappropriate."
Bob McGhee, Swanage Post Office manager and Chamber of Trade treasurer, said the town's small centre exacerbated the potential dangers of careless driving.
He said: "They can burn around at 45mph, when people usually potter about at 20mph at the most.
"In the summer there are more pedestrians about and it does become more of a threat."
Simon Thomson, chairman of the Lytchett Minster and Upton Community Association, said Upton's roads were "absolutely awful" at certain times.
He said: "People go around at a terrible speed and you can hear motorbikes screeching off at night."
Mr Thomson also highlighted Upton's notorious double roundabout as a danger hot spot as driver often speed across it without care.
Police have already handed out four orders for antisocial driving in the past few months.
Under the orders, if a driver is found to be driving in a manner that is likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public, they will be issued with a warning.
Should the driver repeat the offence within 12 months, the vehicle will be seized and removed.
In Swanage, one man in his 20s has had two high performance cars seized.
What do you consider the most antisocial driving offences? Email us at
newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk
7:00pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
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CommentPosted by: TANKMAN, Dorset on 8:03pm Thu 3 Jul 08
Well done.... but why stop at those towns. Where I live next to the A350 it's the motorbikes that need a good purge!
Well done.... but why stop at those towns. Where I live next to the A350 it's the motorbikes that need a good purge!
Posted by: Badger, Poole on 8:56am Fri 4 Jul 08
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????
Posted by: mumof3, Upton on 9:13am Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Badger[/bold] wrote:
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????[/quote] Always has been. We pay our council take to PDC. A small part of Upton in the Old Kiln Road area comes under Poole but the rest is Purbeck.
Badger wrote:
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????
Always has been. We pay our council take to PDC. A small part of Upton in the Old Kiln Road area comes under Poole but the rest is Purbeck.
Posted by: mumof3, Upton on 9:13am Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Badger[/bold] wrote:
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????[/quote] Always has been. We pay our council take to PDC. A small part of Upton in the Old Kiln Road area comes under Poole but the rest is Purbeck.
Badger wrote:
Is Upton part of the Purbecks?????
Always has been. We pay our council take to PDC. A small part of Upton in the Old Kiln Road area comes under Poole but the rest is Purbeck.
Posted by: mumof3, Upton on 9:15am Fri 4 Jul 08
Sorry that should read Council [bold]TAX[/bold]
Sorry that should read Council
TAX Posted by: Prinz Protz Of Bavaria, Poole on 10:04am Fri 4 Jul 08
I don't think it is Mopeds the Police should be worrying about,It is the Bentleys,Aston Martins And all the Merc-Audi-Porsche drivers going full bore at Sandbanks,When the Police / Council hade there speed indicator they when through to fast for it to register their speed.
I don't think it is Mopeds the Police should be worrying about,It is the Bentleys,Aston Martins And all the Merc-Audi-Porsche drivers going full bore at Sandbanks,When the Police / Council hade there speed indicator they when through to fast for it to register their speed.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 2:00pm Fri 4 Jul 08
There are some studies that suggest that a significant proportion of drivers have eyesight that is below the legal standard. That is both anti-social and something that seems to receive little attention from the authorities.
There are some studies that suggest that a significant proportion of drivers have eyesight that is below the legal standard. That is both anti-social and something that seems to receive little attention from the authorities.
Posted by: observer, bmth on 2:11pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[bold] men walking in front with red flags. that is the answer![/bold]
men walking in front with red flags. that is the answer! Posted by: HAL101, Bournemouth on 8:35pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Tail gating is legally defined as dangerous driving. Take note all you tail gating mums with your single kiddy in your giant black brand new BMW 4x4 - and if you do that just once more! - well, just you wait and see!
Tail gating is legally defined as dangerous driving. Take note all you tail gating mums with your single kiddy in your giant black brand new BMW 4x4 - and if you do that just once more! - well, just you wait and see!
Posted by: HAL101, Bournemouth on 8:43pm Fri 4 Jul 08
[quote][bold]PokesdownMark[/bold] wrote:
There are some studies that suggest that a significant proportion of drivers have eyesight that is below the legal standard. That is both anti-social and something that seems to receive little attention from the authorities. [/quote] And what about all those dimose who don't have a single GCSE and are so slow witted that they find double yellow lines hard to understand, eh! eh!
HA!
PokesdownMark wrote:
There are some studies that suggest that a significant proportion of drivers have eyesight that is below the legal standard. That is both anti-social and something that seems to receive little attention from the authorities.
And what about all those dimose who don't have a single GCSE and are so slow witted that they find double yellow lines hard to understand, eh! eh!
HA!
Posted by: extabi, Bahamas on 9:46pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Sooner the goverment in england bring out the £500 a year road tax for 4x4 and other car's your find that most these people be off the road. Except the people who can realy afford it.
Sooner the goverment in england bring out the £500 a year road tax for 4x4 and other car's your find that most these people be off the road. Except the people who can realy afford it.
Posted by: the owl, Bere Regis on 10:51am Tue 8 Jul 08
I asked a youth wearing specs who walked in front of my moving motor at Dorchester ,
Do you always wear glasses, she said, no not all the time only when I want to see.
I asked a youth wearing specs who walked in front of my moving motor at Dorchester ,
Do you always wear glasses, she said, no not all the time only when I want to see.
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