Speeding motorists face a New Year crackdown as more than 50 new speed cameras are installed on roads across the country.

Many new areas across Essex are being targetted with both fixed and mobile cameras under the second phase of a pilot project designed to reduce the number of road accident casualties.

The number of fixed cameras in the county will increase from 44 to more than 100, and signs will warn drivers of their presence.

Rosemary Welch, traffic and road safety manager at Essex County Council, hopes the increase in the number of cameras will make drivers more aware of speed limits and the speed at which they are travelling.

She said: "We don't disclose the exact locations but drivers should expect to see them everywhere in the signed areas. There is a mixture of fixed camera and mobile camera areas.

"We have informed local residents living in the roads where the cameras are going and have received overwhelming support from all of those that we have contacted."

She also confirmed that new cameras would be installed at sites in Brentwood, Ongar, Billericay and Wickford.

The move is being welcomed by road safety campaigners, who say it is a progressive step which could help save lives. Michael O'Donoghue and his wife Margaret have actively campaigned against speeding. He said: "Most drivers are reasonable with the speed limits but unfortunately there are some who think they are there to be ignored.

"It think it's a progressive step to have more speed cameras because there is no other way that you can stop these people.

"I'm glad that now sense is prevailing and money is being spent in the right place as far as road safety is concerned. People have got nothing to fear if they obey the speed limits, and if saves lives then it's a very good thing."

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