Crime | Posted on May 8th, 2026 | return to news

Motorists in Dorset still driving with no seat belts

In just one week, the initiative found 172 drivers committing offences, including not wearing seat belts and using mobile phones.

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A total of 172 drivers were issued with a Traffic Offence Report (TOR) for road traffic offences in a recent initiative carried out by roads policing officers and National Highways.

Using an unmarked heavy goods vehicle (HGV), officers carried out targeted patrols across Dorset between Monday 27 April and Friday 1 May.

The vehicle allows officers to be in an elevated position and use a video camera to capture evidence of any offending. This information is then shared with officers on the ground in other vehicles, who can intercept the offending motorists.

Offenders included 80 drivers or passengers not wearing seat belts, 59 motorists using a mobile phone, eight offences of driving without due care and attention, four drivers with insecure loads, four with an expired MOT, three not in proper control of their vehicle, three for no insurance and two for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

There were also three arrests for drink or drug-driving offences and four vehicles were seized.

During the week, two officers were reportedly assaulted and a police motorcyclist was also driven into by another vehicle.

Inspector Lee Turner, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “In 2025, 378 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads in Dorset, making it vitally important that we use every tactic available to us to keep people safe.

“By using the HGV cab’s high vantage point, we can easily spot motorists who are not wearing a seat belt or driving while distracted, which form part of the fatal five offences.

“There are still some motorists who think it is OK to drive while engaging in dangerous behaviours, such as using a mobile phone. If you are distracted for just a second, this can lead to very serious and fatal consequences.

“We are asking everyone to think about their driving behaviour and to make sure they are not endangering themselves and other road users. Thank you to the majority of people who use our roads in Dorset safely.”

National Highways Road Safety Manager for the South West Jack Mason said: “It is always disappointing to see that some people are still putting themselves and others at risk on our roads. We all need to play our part in keeping our roads as safe as they can be, so we want to encourage motorists to reflect on their driving and prioritise safety on our roads.

“To do that, we are working with our police partners through initiatives such as Operation Tramline to address the unsafe driving behaviours demonstrated by that small minority of drivers.”

Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Having attended Operation Tramline and seen first-hand the work of our Roads Policing Team, I was struck by both the professionalism of our officers and the behaviours they are dealing with on our roads every day.

“From the elevated position in the HGV cab, you get a clear view into vehicles and what I saw was concerning. To witness drivers still taking unacceptable risks, whether that’s using a mobile phone, not wearing a seat belt, or simply not being in proper control of their vehicle, is troubling. These are exactly the kinds of behaviours that lead to people being killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“Operations like this are absolutely vital. They allow officers to proactively identify driving behaviours that might otherwise go unnoticed and take immediate action. But this is not just about enforcement – it is also about education and making people think twice about the choices they make behind the wheel.

“Every death on our roads is one too many, every driver, passenger or pedestrian hurt in a road traffic collision is one person too many, and so improving road safety remains a key priority for me.

“I will continue to support Dorset Police and our partners in using innovative tactics like Operation Tramline to hold offenders to account and ultimately, save lives.”