Road deaths dramatically increased across Essex last year, and drink driving figures for the Christmas period also reached a five-year high.

An alarming 116 people - 43 drivers, 24 motorcyclists, 22 passengers, 23 pedestrians and four cyclists - were killed in the 107 fatal collisions in Essex in 2003, compared to the 92 fatalities in the 85 fatal crashes the previous year.

Newly released figures also show 4.1 per cent of motorists stopped in the county during the Christmas period were over the limit, a 0.7 per cent increase on last year and a 1.8 per cent increase on five years ago.

A total of 6,414 tests were carried out, with 264 drivers providing positive breath specimens and another 32 refusing or failing to provide a specimen.

Road policing Inspector Nick Burston revealed: "There is a significant proportion of the motoring public that is continuing to blatantly break the law. It's extremely disconcerting that drivers still consciously choose to put themselves and other members of society at risk.

"We investigate each and every road death and last year's reports lead us to conclude that a significant number of crashes could have been avoided.

Drink drive figures for the different divisions include 173 motorists being stopped in Chelmsford and nine providing a positive specimen; 1,048 being tested by the Chelmsford road policing unit and 22 providing a positive specimen; 129 motorists being stopped in Braintree, 15 of which provided a positive sample; and 420 being tested by Bocking road policing unit, 11 providing a positive specimen.

Published Friday January 9, 2004