Average speed cameras to be installed after deaths

Floral tributes have been left by the side of the A414, where a 40-year-old motorcyclist died on 16 July

Average speed cameras, lower speed limits and new signage are to be introduced on a stretch of road after several deaths.

The measures are being brought in along 14.5 miles (23km) of the A414 between Chelmsford and North Weald in Essex.

There were five fatal crashes on the road in 2024 and there have been two so far this year.

Work to install the measures - a collaboration between Essex County Council, Essex Police and the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) - is expected to begin in August.

Essex County Council said the speed limit would be reduced in places from 60mph to either 50mph or 40mph, depending on the location.

It added areas already limited to 50mph would be lowered to 40mph, but existing 40mph and 30mph sections would remain unchanged.

A van driver in his 30s died in May after a collision near the Wyse's Road junction

The measures were announced less than two weeks after a motorcyclist was killed when his vehicle and a car collided by Radley Green Road.

The 40-year-old motorcyclist from Witham died at the scene on 16 July.

In a joint statement, Essex County Council cabinet member for highways Tom Cunningham, Adam Pipe from Essex Police's roads policing unit, and Lee Scott, chair of the SERP governance board, said they were "deeply saddened" by the incident.

"We are taking steps to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions on this road by reducing the speed limit and also introducing improved speed enforcement," they said.

"Together, these measures will improve safety for all road users."

The A414 is one of the busiest A-roads in Essex