DRIVERS are being urged to be safe and heed advice after a week of carnage of Dorset’s roads.

Police and highways officials have issued warnings after crashes which resulted in two fatalities and three people seriously injured, plus a number of other road incidents – in just five days.

Investigations into the causes of these collisions are ongoing. However officers have issued a general warning reminding motorists not to take unnecessary risks.

The two road tragedies on the roads in west Dorset this week, plus news that a man involved in a crash near Dorchester two months ago had sadly died of his injuries, has added to the grim tally of people dying on the roads this year.

Last year, a total of 16 people were killed on Dorset's roads. No official figures are available for this year – but it is understood at least 11 people have died in road tragedies so far.

The Dorset Echo reported last Saturday how a 'reckless' biker had been jailed after he crashed on the A35 and left a 16-year-old girl and another man with life changing injuries.

Then in the past week:

  • A woman was seriously injured after being struck by a reversing car in a car park on Portland on Sunday afternoon
  • A 68-year-old woman died in a four car pile-up on the A35 Charmouth bypass on Sunday evening
  • A woman was cut free from a car after a crash on the A31 at Stag Gate on Monday. The injuries were not life threatening
  • Also on Monday, a driver had a lucky escape after a car flipped over on Dorchester Road, Weymouth
  • It was announced on Monday that a 77-year-old man injured in a crash near West Stafford on March 14 had died in hospital from his injuries
  • A 37-year-old Somerset man died and another man, aged 23 and from Weymouth, was seriously injured in a two-car crash on the coast road near Portesham on Wednesday
  • Also on Wednesday, a woman was injured after being involved in a collision with a car in Chickerell Road, Weymouth
  • A woman was seriously injured in a crash between a car and a coach on the A3066 near Beaminster on Thursday. Police said the woman initially had life threatening injuries when she was airlifted to hospital but this is no longer the case. Her condition yesterday was described as 'serious but stable'
  • Also on Thursday there were two separate crashes on the A35 east of Bere Regis which caused severe delays. Occupants were taken to hospital but it is not thought anyone was seriously injured

Dorset Police said they had been dealing with an increased number of collisions that have occurred in the last week.

Inspector Joe Pardey, of Dorset Police’s traffic unit, said: “Every serious road traffic collision leaves at least one family devastated.

“Many victims of collisions may also suffer from life-changing injuries which can be very hard for victims and their families.

"Traffic police family liaison officers will continue to support families through difficult times, but the simple fact is that most collisions could be avoided.

“I would ask all motorists to drive with courtesy and patience. Don’t take unnecessary risks or think a collision will never happen to you – it happens to people in all areas of the community."

Insp Pardey added: “The work of our Roads Policing Team and Serious Collision Investigation Team is imperative to provide answers to those involved and to ultimately improve road safety and prevent collisions happening in the first place."

Police work with partners such as Dorset County Council to try and make the county's road safe.

Andrew Martin, service director for highways and emergency planning at DCC said: “We will continue to do what we can to improve road safety, and will continue to work with partners at Dorset Road Safe to ensure that any identified risks presented by the highway network, and its condition are minimised wherever possible.”