Almost 100k speeding offences recorded in one year

There were 42 deaths on the roads in Essex in 2023, police said

Almost 100,000 speeding offences were recorded in Essex last year as the amount of road incidents soared, data showed.

A total of 98,297 offences were recorded in 2023, representing a rise from 71,695 in 2019.

However, Essex Police said the number of deaths on the roads had fallen in 20 years, from 116 recorded in 2003 - to 42 last year.

Adam Pipe, head of the force's Road Policing Unit (RPU), reiterated officers' ambitions to have no road deaths in the county by 2040.

Mr Pipe said the enforcement of speed limits was crucial to achieving its Vision Zero objective.

'Steady decline'

"These limits afford protection to all road users, especially the most vulnerable, such as cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists," he said.

Figures released by the police showed more than 580 drivers were arrested in connection with drink or drug driving between January and March 2024.

“Our work, together with partners, is clearly having an impact," Mr Pipe added.

“In the early 2000s, we saw very high numbers of road casualties and this number is in steady decline.

“One death on our roads is always too many, but these figures are moving in the right direction.”