THE number of people killed on Essex’s roads so far this year is already reaching the number of fatalities for the whole of last year reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

A total of 37 people have been killed since the beginning of the year — just five fewer than the whole of 2024 — even though there are more than four months left of 2025.

The figure, which corresponds to the area administered by Essex County Council, was described as “horrible” at a policy scrutiny on July 24.

The council has said work is being done to reduce crashes, including work with the Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP).

Tom Blackburne-Maze, director of Highways and Transport, said: “It’s been a really bad year. We’re doing a lot of work on what measures we could put in place to try and mitigate and stop that.

“We’re working with the police and all the other agencies, health agencies. It’s scary. It’s horrible.”

Among the roads receiving special attention is the A414, which will have its speed limit cut and cameras installed after a series of fatal crashes in recent years.

The 60mph speed limit on the road will be dropped, while new average speed cameras will enforce the changes.

The measures follow a number of fatal collisions on the A414, which links Chelmsford and Harlow. There were five fatal collisions on the A414 last year and two further fatal collisions to date in 2025.

Mr Blackburne-Maze added: “We’re getting a lot of fatalities on the A414 at this moment in time. So, we are doing some work and bringing the speed down and putting other measures in there as well. It’s scary. So, we are working with all the agencies to work towards our vision zero.”

Essex County Council, Essex Police and the SERP have all backed the new measures. It comes after people living and working on the busy road previously shared their fear and concerns about the road’s growing death toll.

New restrictions will cover 14.5 miles of the road, from the Widford roundabout in Chelmsford to the existing 30mph speed limit east of the junction with the B181 at Tylers Green. The proposed changes will see sections where the speed limit is currently 60mph reduced to either 50mph or 40mph, depending on the location.

The current 50mph limit would also be reduced to 40mph. The existing 40mph and 30mph limits would not be affected. These new speed limits will be enforced by the introduction of average speed cameras, which will be operational in the coming months.

George Noble, 30, from Ongar, died after a serious crash on the A414 between the junctions of Radley Green Road and Wyse’s Road on May 8. A male motorcyclist, in their 40s, who has not yet been named, died after a collision with a car near the junction of Radley Green Road towards Ongar on July 16.

Categories: Highways
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Authorities: Essex County Council

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