Essex Police have issued a warning after a troubling week on the county’s roads. Adam Pipe, Head of Roads Policing for Essex Police, disclosed that there were 57 collisions in only seven days. Dozens of people sustained injuries, and tragically, one person lost their life during this period.
Nearly half of these crashes occurred over the weekend, causing significant disruption on two of Essex’s busiest routes. With traffic expected to increase in the coming weeks, authorities are urging drivers to exercise caution and avoid taking risks.
Adam Pipe advised, “You might not have driven far in the last year, and could feel nervous. Plan your journey, give yourself extra time, and be considerate. Don’t take risks.”
He also shared essential safety tips for drivers:
- Check your car’s condition – oil, fuel, tyres – especially if unused for a while.
- Bring any necessary medications on long trips.
- Carry food and water in case you’re stuck longer than expected.
- Stay alert: check mirrors, keep distance, obey speed limits.
- Never use your mobile phone while driving.
“Speeding is a deadly problem,” Pipe warned. “Drive carefully and help prevent tragedy.”
Nicola Foster, Chair of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership, expressed deep concern about the recent surge in crashes. She stated, “Road deaths are unacceptable and preventable. We must work together to create a ‘safe system’ in Essex. Humans make mistakes, so we need layers of protection: safe speeds, safer roads, safer vehicles, and the best emergency response.”
Foster emphasized, “Zero is the only number of deaths and serious injuries we can accept in Essex.”
Essex Police encourage the public to report any reckless or anti-social driving. If you witness dangerous driving or capture it on dash cam, do not stay silent. You can report incidents by calling 101 or using the Extra Eyes tool available here: https://saferessexroads.org/extraeyes/extra-eyes-what-next/.
Originally published by UKNIP.
