NEW data has shown that Essex is bucking a national trend - with a 22 per cent reduction in road deaths.

Nationally there has been a 3 per cent rise in the number of people killed on Britain’s roads. In 2011, there were 35 people killed on the county’s roads, compared to 2010 when there were 45. Overall killed and seriously injured (KSI) casualties for Essex also fell 5 per cent in 2011 (630) compared to 2010 (662), set against a 2pc increase nationally. Substantial reductions were also seen in Young Driver KSI Casualties with a 26pc reduction from 131 in 2010 to 97 in 2011.

In 2012, Essex County Council, working with its partners in the Essex Casualty Reduction Board (ECRB) will be continuing the ‘no excuse’ campaign, which brings together cover and overt police enforcement and road safety education programmes to target routes and towns where crashes and casualties are known to occur.

These events, known as ‘Surround-a-Town’ (SAT) days, include police enforcement, road safety education, speed watch events at schools, community speed watch groups, pedestrian training, re-education for offenders and child car seat checks.

Cllr Derrick Louis, cabinet member for Highways and Transportation at Essex County Council and chairman of the Essex Casualty Reduction Board, said: “The reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads is testament to level of activity and support from all of the ECRB partners and their dedication to reducing collisions in Essex.

“We will be continuing to target key areas and organise events such SAT days which provide us with the opportunity to engage with residents about the most common causes of accidents. Indeed, whilst some drivers continue to put themselves and others at risk we will continue to target them with enforcement and education activity to make our roads safer.”