Special areas could be built on the verges of some of Dorset’s rural roads – to allow speed trap vans to park.

The idea is being considered by Dorset County Council as a way of reducing speeding and accidents on some of the county’s rural roads.

County council Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee members heard that the biggest problem for enforcing speed limits on many rural roads was finding somewhere to park a speed van, or safely use a hand-held device.

“It is widely acknowledged that road users are more likely to be killed or seriously injured whilst using a rural road…evidence led speed enforcement is a key element of Dorset Road Safe’s interventions, however, enforcing on the rural road network is problematic as there is often not an appropriate location to enforce from,” said a report to the committee from officers.

Cllr Beryl Ezzard called for the council to look at introducing more 20mph zones around schools and to promote local traffic monitoring groups.

“It is often local people who are speeding, not visitors,” she said.

Cllr Bill Pipe called for the greater use of average speed cameras, an idea which he said had the backing of the Dorset Police Commissioner.

“If he gets what he wants it will have quiet an impact on road traffic speeds in the county,” he said.