Major Police Operation Tackles Poor Driving On A12

19 November 2014, 07:56 | Updated: 19 November 2014, 08:08

A major police operation is taking place on the A12 to tackle poor driving.

Extra officers will be patrolling the entire stretch from Ipswich in Suffolk down to the M25, targeting things like speeding, driving while on a mobile phone, and driving too close to the car in front.

Adam Pipe from Essex Police told Heart why they are doing it: "We saw 74 people killed or seriously injured on Essex roads during October, that compares to 58 last year.

"We're still seeing far too many incidents of people using mobile phones, in-car distractions or people driving too close to the car in front.

"Since April the 1st we've issued around 900 fixed penalties for speed on the A12, we've dealt with more than 300 people for use of a mobile phone, and we've reported about 250 people for careless driving."

Mr Pipe says there are certain groups of roads they are most concerned about: "Particularly older drivers, young people on two-wheelers like mopeds.

"The users of the A12 could make their daily journey better by improving the way they use the road.".

He adds that, where possible, they will put offenders onto driver training courses to "re-educate" them rather than put them in front of a court.

The operation is taking place between 7am and 11pm today.