Four deaths on Basildon's roads this year have failed to deter dangerous and irresponsible driving.

That was today's stark revelation from police following a month-long crackdown on those who flout the law.

They say the campaign aimed at reducing death and serious injuries on the county's roads has had disappointing results.

During November three people died on south Essex roads and 48 were seriously injured in horror road smashes - that is one more death and 13 more injuries than in November 1998. The results have angered police who struggle in vain to get the drink-drive, speed and seatbelt message across.

Insp Ian Debbage of Laindon traffic unit said: "Drivers continue to believe they can get away with such behaviour. They cannot."

The Triple S Campaign - which targeted drink driving, speeding and wearing seatbelts - saw 1,005 drivers breathalysed. Of these 85 - or 8.5 per cent - were over the legal drink drive limit.

Another 645 fell foul of speeding and 345 for not wearing their seatbelts. Another 88 people were seriously injured in crashes in Basildon alone, and 1,018 slightly injured.

Insp Debbage added: "If you add together the totals of positive breath tests, excess speeds and failing to wear seatbelts, it means that 1,079 motorists still decided to take chances which could have led to death."

The seatbelt, speed and sober campaign involved officers from Southend, Rayleigh, Basildon and Thurrock.

Fact file

Reducing your speed by just 1mph could save your community £2,702,646.

In 1998 there were 16 deaths, 202 serious injuries and 1,850 slight injuries on the road in Basildon and Thurrock.

Government statistics show the cost to a community for each road death is £1,085,670; for a serious injury £129,781 and for a slight injury £12,946.

In 1998, road-related death and trauma cost Basildon £23,765,822. In Thurrock the total was £30,287,101.

Some of those died as a result of their own actions, but many were not responsible.

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