No seatbelt pregnant smoker in safety excuse

A pregnant car passenger caught without a seatbelt told officers in Dorset she was worried the belt would harm her unborn baby, as she smoked a cigarette.

Police also said a woman was stopped for having both hands off the wheel as she tried to get a fly out of her car.

Nearly 15,000 offences have been detected as part of the "No Excuse" campaign, which began in January.

About 2,500 people have been caught without a seatbelt and 1,000 drivers punished for using a mobile phone.

Wavy hair

The pregnant woman was stopped as she travelled as a passenger in Dorchester.

In Bridport, a motorcyclist was fined after he took both hands off his bike to give a friend travelling in the opposite direction the "thumbs up".

A woman driver in Ferndown was fined when she took both hands off the wheel to smooth her wavy hair and a JCB driver was told it was still an offence to use a mobile phone while driving, even though he was "travelling slowly".

Ch Insp Robert Nichols, Dorset Police, said: "Unfortunately, a significant number of drivers continue to put themselves and others at risk though selfish or careless practices.

"We will continue to detect those individuals and we accept no excuse."

The Dorset Road Safe scheme is run by agencies including Dorset Police, the fire service and Dorset County Council.