SOMEONE has died on Dorset's roads on average once a week since the late summer.

Seven people have been killed in collisions in the county over the course of the past seven weeks.

Police have now urged all drivers and bikers to respect the roads and behave with "courtesy and patience".

Paul Tovey, who was 35, died on the night of Tuesday, August 29 when his orange Kawasaki motorbike was in collision with a white Audi A1 in Parkstone Road.

The driver of the Audi, a man aged in his 20s, and the front seat passenger, a woman aged in her 20s, were treated for minor injuries after the crash, which happened close to the junction with Birds Hill Road.

On October 3, cyclist Christopher Gibbs, 30, was killed in a hit and run on the A338 Spur Road southbound close to the Ashley Heath roundabout.

A 57-year-old man from Southampton has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision. A 57-year-old woman, also from Southampton, has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. The pair have been released under investigation.

Just days later, on October 6, two people died within hours of one another.

An 84-year-old woman died following a crash just off Sarum Avenue in West Moors. It was reported she was involved in a collision with a reversing car.

The woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after the collision, which is believed to have taken place as she delivered a birthday card. She died shortly afterwards,

David Pilbro, who was 17, died on the A31 on the same day when his orange and black Hyosung motorcycle was involved in a collision with a white Ford Transit van.

The driver of the van, a 48-year-old man from Southampton, was uninjured.

A week later, on October 13, two more people were killed on the same day.

A 55-year-old man from Southampton died after a crash involving a car, a coach and a skip loader on the A31 at White Post.

The driver of the coach, who did not have any passengers in his vehicle, received minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment. The driver of the skip loader was uninjured.

Hours later, Pat Ashman, 85, died after a collision with a BMW as she took her daily walk in Mudeford.

Ms Ashman, a popular resident at Avon Reach Care Home, was involved in the crash at 2.30pm. The BMW was being driven by a 94-year-old local man.

On Monday, a 43-year-old woman from Dorchester died after a crash on the A352 at Whitcombe.

She was the passenger of a red Honda Civic which was in collision with a silver Peugeot 206.

The driver of the Honda, a man in his 40s, suffered serious injuries. The male driver of the Peugeot sustained injuries to his chest, leg and arm.

A spokesperson from Dorset Police said: "Every serious road traffic collision leaves at least one family devastated.

"Many victims of collisions may also suffer from life-changing injuries which can be very hard for victims and their families.

"Traffic police family liaison officers will continue to support families through difficult times, but the simple fact is that most collisions could be avoided.

"I would ask all motorists to drive with courtesy and patience. Don’t take unnecessary risks or think a collision will never happen to you – it happens to people in all areas of the community.

"The work of our Roads Policing Team and Serious Collision Investigation Team is imperative to provide answers to those involved and to ultimately improve road safety and prevent collision happening in the first place."