DON'T become a murderer just for the sake of another drink or to answer a phone call.

That is the message from police in West Dorset who have warned there will be no leniency shown to people who put lives in danger on the roads.

Several arrests have been made since the summer No Excuse and drink-drive campaign was launched last week.

Officers have stepped up their patrols by holding weekly enforcement days to target the 'Fatal Four' - speeding, not wearing seatbelts, distraction (mobile phones), and drink or drug driving.

Lyme Regis officer PC Richard Winward was at the roadside around West Dorset on Friday using speeding equipment and a breathalyser to catch offenders.

As part of the campaign, additional checks are being carried out throughout the county, including early morning checks by both marked and unmarked police patrols. Anyone involved in a collision will be breath-tested.

Bridport section commander Inspector Mike Darby said: “The average person, 99 per cent of the population, if you ask them they would say there's no way I could murder someone.

“If you get into your car and answer your mobile phone you are very likely to murder someone.

“Don't go from an ordinary member of the public to a murderer just because you want another half a lager or you want to answer your phone.”

Insp Darby said different tactics are used depending on the time of year.

“The drink driving campaign is part of No Excuses to raise awareness and relevance at this time of year when people go out more or to barbecues and the temptation to drink more is there,” he said.

“Since we launched the summer No Excuse and drink-drive campaign last week we have arrested three people for drink drive offences, breathalysed many more and issued a large number of tickets for the Fatal Four offences.

“There is no excuse for putting people's lives in danger so don't expect leniency if you are caught disregarding yours or others safety by breaking the law when driving.”

Insp Darby said the Fatal Four are the main cause of accidents, contributing highly to deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

He said: “We are determined to make the roads of West Dorset safer and protect the communities and public that live, work and visit this part of the county by robustly and diligently enforcing offences to prevent the death and serious injuries of road users and innocent parties.”

Officers will be highly visible today for the next enforcement day.

Across the county, 23 arrests were made in the first week of the drink-drive campaign, five of which were made after collisions and the rest were made following stop checks.

Dorset Police traffic Inspector Matt Butler said: “My warning to anyone getting behind the wheel after they've had a drink is simple - you are seriously increasing your chances of causing a road traffic collision and we will catch you.”