MOTORISTS can lower the number of ‘needless’ and ‘devastating’ deaths on the roads by thinking before acting in their vehicles.

Those are the words of Nick Lloyd, the road safety manager of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), as he backed a campaign to highlight the dangers of driving.

RoSPA supported the European Day Without A Road Death project, which used a series of short films to highlight the dangers associated with actions such as speeding, driver distraction, illegal use of mobile phones and drink-driving.

Nick said: “By getting road users to think about their actions, even if only for a few minutes, we could drive down the number of needless and devastating accidents.

“Anything we can do to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads, not just here in the UK but also around the world, is welcome.”

Daily Echo reported yesterday that there have been five fatal crashes in the county in the past 16 days, bringing the number of deaths on Dorset’s roads to 13 this year.

Inspector Matt Butler of Dorset Police said that ‘most collisions could be avoided’ before adding that road safety is a priority for the police force.

A 23-year-old man, named locally as Joe Howe, died in a crash involving a motorbike and a car in Lindsay Road on Sunday (OCT23), which has also seen friends and families leave scores of bouquets.

His 21-year-old friend, named locally as Tom Wilson, continues to fight for life in Southampton General Hospital.

Speaking generally about road safety, Cllr Peter Finney, deputy leader of Dorset County Council and cabinet member for highways, said: “I live out in the country and my road is used in the morning and evening as a rat run.

“People have no concept at all of what speed they are doing and there are no footpaths on the road.

“This is particularly relevant at a time when the clocks are set to go back and it will become much darker outside. Highways are inherently dangerously. People have to realise that these incidents can be avoided.”