COLCHESTER and Braintree motorists have spoken out about plans to cut the speed limit on a busy stretch of the A120 in a bid to reduce accidents.
A National Highways public consultation is taking place after proposals to reduce the 60mph speed limit between Marks Tey and Braintree to 50mph.
The road has seen some serious accidents in the past.
Now readers have shared their views on cutting the speed limit.
James Hoskins said: “It would be nice to be able to do 40mph when I use it. Cut it to 50mph, cut it to 30 - it won’t make a difference.
“People will still speed. The junctions need to be looked at and altered. People are not dying on the perfectly straight bits of road.”
John Roberts said: “I travel that road regularly from Braintree to Marks Tey and visa versa.
"Clearly something should be done. The posted speed limits bounce up and down between 40, 50 and 60 mph.”
Carl Middleton said: “Ridiculous - it is a waste of time and money.
“The road is always jammed up with traffic now.
"They should sort out the Mark's farm roundabouts. There are always accidents there.”
Paul Saxby said: “I live on this road and the sooner they do something about it the better. There are so many crashes.”
Arwyn Hockridge was against cutting the speed limit, saying: “No need - it's already slow.”
Leonard Watson said: “Lower speeds will only cause lapses of concentration.
“It will cause the traffic to bunch up and drive too close.
“It will encourage more overtaking by frustrated drivers.
“It will result in more accidents and ultimately and tragically more deaths.”
Adam Cardy said: “It should be 60mph the whole length and 70mph on the dual carriageway sections. Let people get to the airport.”
Peter Cowling said: “The accidents that regularly occur at three of the four junctions on the Coggeshall by-pass are almost without fail due to impatience and excessive speeds.
“There are times each day, in each direction, approaching Marks Tey and Braintree, when you’re lucky to be doing 20mph, let alone 50 or 60.
“Where there are dwellings either side of the road, and side roads joining the A120, the limit should be reduced to 40mph, as are many of the roads nowadays.
“Traffic volumes are far greater than when many of the older roads were built and maintaining the old speed limits is no longer practical.
“The new road, promised for many years, would help alleviate the congestion and the 'need' for speedier routes satisfied.”
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