MOTORISTS on south Essex roads are driving on some of the safest in the UK, according to a survey.

The Road Safety Foundation’s annual survey shows none of the roads in south Essex are high risk, or even medium to high risk.

Taken from accident data on UK roads between 2006 and 2008, the survey found none of the roads in the east of England put motorists at a high risk of road accidents.

According to the results, the A128 between Basildon and Brentwood, Canvey Way and Somnes Avenue, and the A1014 between Stanford-le-Hope and Coryton were the worst, featuring an average number of accidents. But other roads, long considered to be traffic hotspots by drivers, were classed as less serious.

The foundation found the A127 between Southend and the M25, only put drivers at a low to medium risk of accidents.

But the survey did not take account of the average speed cameras installed between Rayleigh and Nevendon, which were turned on early last year.

It also found the A13 was also a low to medium risk road.

Dr Joanne Hill, director of the foundation, said: “Relatively inexpensive engineering measures, such as improvements to signing, resurfacing and the layout of signals at junctions, are paying dividends and are affordable. particularly when done as part of well planned routine maintenance.”

The area is the sixth safest in the country for driving.

Michael Page, an Essex County Council spokesman, said: “Road safety is a top priority of Essex County Council.

“As a result of working with partners on the Essex Casualty Reduction Board, the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads has reduced by over 30 per cent in the past three years.”