DORSET residents have been urged to shop drink- or drug-drivers to the police after the deaths of 18 people on the county's roads last year.

Officers from Dorset's roads policing teams have urged anyone who knows of a driver who risks lives to call 101 and report it.

Inspector Joe Pardy said police want to get dangerous drivers off the roads before they can hurt others.

"My team of roads policing officers are hardworking, committed and passionate about catching drivers who put us all at risk of harm," he said.

"Our goal is to reduce those who are killed or seriously injured on the roads, but we can't do it alone."

In a direct appeal to Daily Echo readers, Insp Pardey said: "We need your help to tell us if you know of drivers who are drink or drug driving, driving dangerously or driving whilst disqualified.

"These are the people we want to get off the roads and who pose the greatest risk. These are the drivers who are more likely to be involved in collisions.

"While the cause of every collision is different, if everyone ensured that they are putting 100 per cent concentration on driving, riding or being a pedestrian, keeping to the laws of the road and being respectful of other road users and the prevailing conditions, then this will greatly reduce the likelihood of a collision happening in the first place."

The force's Op Dragoon aims to take some of the country's most dangerous driving offenders off the roads by identifying and targeting prolific offenders.

Officers also promote the importance of avoiding the fatal five, which are driving at excess or inappropriate speeds, failing to wear a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, driving under the influence of drink or drugs and careless or inconsiderate driving.

Insp Pardey said: "All of the fatal five are proven factors in the causation of collisions.

"Distraction and impairment will impact on your ability to drive correctly, reduce your concentration and reaction times.

"Not wearing a seat belt will result in more serious injury if you're involved in a collision, and speeding will mean everything happens faster with less time to react.

"In urban areas, it increases the injury in pedestrian collisions and in all cases increases the necessary braking distances.

"Driving under the influence of drink or drugs can also seriously impact your judgement and reaction times."

He said the police's biggest challenge is "getting all road users to respect the roads and each other".

"Over recent years we have focused our resources on targeting those drivers who pose the greatest risk," Insp Pardey said.

"As always, we need the public’s help to tell us about motorists who continue to flout the law."

Anyone who has concerns that a motorist is driving under the influence of drink or drugs, driving dangerously or driving while disqualified should contact 101 or email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk

If an offence is happening immediately, call 999.