“YOUR vehicle is a lethal weapon.”

That’s the message from a top traffic cop targeting motorists who flout the law.

Sergeant Stuart Pitman, lead officer for Dorset Police’s No Excuses driving campaign, said communities around the county are “suffering” as the result of bad driving.

And in a night of action on Tuesday, more than 200 vehicles – including motorcycles, cars and even a tractor – were stopped by officers.

Of those, 194 were found to be speeding.

The first vehicle to be stopped by Sgt Pitman was a silver BMW caught travelling at 86 miles per hour on the Upton Bypass.

The officer warned its driver of the treacherous conditions on the road after days of heavy rain and issued a fixed penalty notice for £100.

The driver’s licence will also be endorsed with three points.

He would have been able to take a driving awareness course, but had already completed one just six months ago.

Speaking afterwards, Sgt Pitman said: “This is someone who isn’t learning his lesson.

“He was travelling at speed, and that can kill.”

The second car stopped – a Citroen Dispatch – was travelling at 91 miles per hour on a dual carriageway.

Its driver told police: “I’m late for the dog track – I’m supposed to be there by 6pm.”

Yet another told police that he needed the toilet, while one man caught travelling at 71mph in a 50 zone told the officer: “My wife is going to kill me.”

One man was caught by an unmarked police car flashing his lights at oncoming motorists to warn them of police activity.

When stopped, officers discovered he had no tax or insurance and his vehicle was seized.

Drivers speeding on the county’s main roads were pulled over by officers during the safety initiative.

Operations manager Brian Austin said the evening’s particular focus was on motorcyclists speeding to Poole Bike Night at the Quay, but all motorists could be stopped.

“We have received increased complaints about speeding motorcyclists on their way there,” he said.

He said a previous initiative had resulted in five bikers being pulled over on the A31.

All had been travelling at 115 miles per hour.

“Bikes are going past houses at speed, and we must react to that,” he said.

Sgt Pitman said the initiative was about “deploying resources to communities who are suffering as the result of anti-social driving”.

“There are a small number of individuals who continue to flout traffic laws,” he added.