Bournemouth Supports Road Safety Scheme

An £800,000 ‘No Excuses’ scheme to reduce deaths on roads in Dorset has got the support of Bournemouth council.
Dorset County Council communications officer Michael Carhart-Harris said: “The aim of ‘No Excuses’ is to target key types of driving behaviour that result in accidents to reduce the number of people killed on the roads.”
The campaign aims to tackle careless driving by combining improved police patrols with cameras that can detect offences like using a phone or eating whilst driving. If drivers are caught committing an offence they will face a £60 fine and mandatory road safety education. The county council says the fines will go towards funding the scheme.
Bournemouth Borough Council road safety planning and transport official Claire Elkins said: “Bournemouth is supporting the ‘No Excuses’ campaign by including the ‘No Excuses’ logo in any campaigns that are targeting drivers and passengers.”
Accidents on Dorset’s roads killed or injured 294 people in 2008. Dorset Police and the County Council have launched the ‘No Excuses’ campaign in a bid to reduce the figure by 30 per cent in 2010.
The launch of this campaign comes at the same time as lower speed limits are being trialled on the Wessex Way.
Bournemouth Council road safety engineer Rob Wilson said: The ‘No Excuses’ campaign and the speed limit on the Wessex Way are totally independent schemes but both are needed because nationally Bournemouth hasn’t been performing well as road safety targets have not been met.”
The Dorset Institute of Advanced Motorists has also praised the scheme. Chairman Hazel Bancroft said: “The scheme is a very good idea. It’s hitting all the right people by advertising on the radio in the early morning and late afternoon rush hours to make drivers aware of distractions.”

Suggested Site links:
Dorset Institute of Advanced Motorists: http://www.dorsetiam.org.uk/
Dorset County Council: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/
Bournemouth Borough Council: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/
Bournemouth Echo: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4854887.Dorset_drivers_face__No_Excuses__crackdown___with_video/