NEARLY 150 drivers were discovered committing motoring offences during a police blitz on careless driving in Weymouth.

Seven drivers were caught using a phone at the wheel, final statistics from the Surround a Town day show.

One driver who was stopped for talking on a phone was answering a call from his friend warning him to watch out for the police.

Of the 145 offences committed during the event – part of the No Excuse project – 75 tickets were issued by uniformed police officers.

The remaining 70 offences were committed by speeding drivers.

Of the 75 officer-issued tickets, 40 per cent of the offences (30 offenders) were for drivers not wearing a seatbelt.

Other offences during the day by police officers included 28 for speeding, seven motorists driving while using a mobile phone, three vehicles being driven with no MOT and one driver given a prohibition notice for having an unsafe vehicle.

All but four of the 30 offenders attended a free seatbelt awareness course held at the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service Community Safety Centre on Radipole Lane.

Most drivers who committed other offences were offered Driver Awareness Scheme (DAS) courses at a later date rather than receiving points, fines or court appearances.

Robert Smith, Dorset County Council’s road safety team manager, said: “Despite only seven of the 145 detected offences being mobile phone offences, it is still worrying and disappointing to see drivers risking lives by using their phones at the wheel.”