Police disappointed as road deaths soar (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Police disappointed as road deaths soar

12:20pm Wednesday 2nd January 2013 in News

THE number of people killed in road crashes in Essex has risen after a two-year drop.

Almost 50 people died on the county’s roads last year - an increase of 17 per cent.

Road policing officers say they are keen to hammer home key safety issues which are often the reason for fatalities.

Road policing chief inspector Rachel Nolan said: "The figures are disappointing and we can only hope our road safety messages hit home in 2013. These fatal crashes are needless.”

Figures show that the 48 people killed in 2012 died in 46 collisions on the county’s roads. In 2011, 41 people died in 38 fatal crashes.

Chief Insp Nolan said the main reasons for injuries and fatalities were failure to wear a seat belt, using mobile phones, drink-driving or speeding.

He said: "All road users must be aware of this. If all of these factors were cut out and motoring laws adhered to then people would not be injured or killed.”

In 2012, 3,600 people were injured in collisions with 670 classed as serious. The 2011 figure stood at 4,000 people injured, with 745 casualties classed as serious.

Chief Insp Nolan added: "We will continue to rigorously enforce offences relating to the four key road safety factors throughout the next 12 months.”