A HEALTH and safety consultant has hit out at the handling of speed camera enforcement on the A35 Tolpuddle bypass - describing it as 'shocking'.

Hundreds of drivers have now been caught speeding on the road since Sunday, with 375 trapped inside the first four hours alone.

Robert Hamilton wants to know why the situation was allowed to continue - despite so many motorists being caught in such a short time.

The Dorset Safety Camera Partnership has introduced a temporary 40mph limit and extra cameras on the bypass while roadworks are completed this week.

Since Sunday 944 potential prosecutions have been recorded - with some drivers clocked at 75mph.

Mr Hamilton, director of Whitehorse Leadership Training in Weymouth, says the partnership or the police should have stepped in. He added: "If the cameras were on the A35 Tolpuddle bypass to make the road safe, why did they allow such a dangerous situation to continue all day?

"If they were catching so many drivers speeding in such a short time, why didn't they take positive steps to make the road safe?

"The fact they allowed this extremely dangerous practice to continue all day is shocking in itself.

"I think someone in either of these two organisations should be held to account, to explain to the public why they allowed it to continue all day."

Mr Hamilton thinks a police vehicle with its blue flashing lights operating would have been a more effective deterrent.

He said: "Humans will always be careless and are easily distracted while driving - hence the reason for banning the use of mobile phones.

"I find emergency vehicles make me focus my behaviour, because of the siren and flashing lights.

"I can't help but wonder how many of these speeding drivers on the A35 would have slowed down for the roadworks if there had been a flashing sign reminding them of their speed and asking them to slow down.

"We could then consider placing the cameras after these flashing signs to catch the motorists who then ignore a more effective reminder of their speed."

Mr Hamilton believes the DSCP should lead the way in reviewing just how effective speed cameras are at reducing the risk on our roads.

"Let's consider alternatives that get a driver's attention and change behaviour at the time, not some weeks later in the post," he added.

"I think the fact they photographed so many drivers in one day should be proof enough that their control measure is not working."

Nobody at the partnership was available for comment.