ROADS boss Rodney Bass has today made a plea to the Highways Agency and the Government to take urgent measures on the A12, following a series of accidents near Hatfield Peverel.
As a result of this spate of accidents Cllr Bass recommends arrow markings to assist drivers to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front are painted on the road, along with a ban on HGVs overtaking between 6am and 8pm.
He is also calling for the restoration of A12 police patrols with an offer by Essex County Council to part-finance these excursions.
Essex County Council's cabinet member for highways and transportation wants to see signs on both sides of the Witham Bypass saying "Slow Down", "Maintain Distance" and "Keep Alert".
Councillor Bass said: "Safety is of the utmost importance for our residents and I would like to see the Highways Agency and the Government take these actions as soon as possible."
This month alone there have been seven crashes on the A12 involving 27 vehicles resulting in 11 injuries and one death.
The first was on June 3 when three cars crashed at around 7.30am between the junction with Witham south and Hatfield Peverel.
On June 5 five cars collided near junction 20b at Hatfield Peverel, heading towards London just before 7.30am.
Then three vehicles crashed, again on the London-bound A12 carriageway, this time between Three Mile Hill and Ingatestone on June 6.
A crash involving a van and a car has shut the A12 at Chelmsford on June 12.
On June 19 seven people were injured, including two young boys, in a five vehicle accident that blocked the London-bound A12 between Howe Green and Galleywood.
Bonnie Hiller from Tiptree was killed on June 21 when her Mercedes crashed into a bridge support under the A12 at Kelvedon.
The latest smash was this morning when two crashes involving a total of ten vehicles brought the A12 London-bound carriageway to a standstill.
The first collision, involving three cars, was at around 6.25am between junction 21 at Witham and junction 20b at Hatfield Peverel.
The second crash involved seven vehicles, including a lorry, and happened at 7am at junction 20 Hatfield Peverel. As a result a lorry driver has been questioned by officers for careless driving.
Three months ago Essex Police announced officers would be stepping up an operation to reduce collisions and casualties on the A12 in Essex.
Operation Excellence was launched on March 1 in response to concerns about an increase in crashes and delays on the road.
It is hoped that the operation, which is also targeting criminals using the A12, will reduce problems by curbing speeding, tailgating and other forms of inconsiderate driving.
The operation is likely to continue for a further three months and will include larger days of action in which units from Essex and the Norfolk and Suffolk road policing department will join forces for widespread rush hour patrols covering from Brentwood to the Suffolk border.
