A NEW breed of speed camera could soon be targeting drivers on an accident-scarred stretch of the A127.

Average speed cameras, which measure the time a car takes to cover a distance between two points, could be the next move in the battle to slow down speeding motorists.

Essex County Council is considering the cameras - already in use in motorway maintenance zones - between the Southend borough boundary and a point just west of Rayleigh Weir.

A new 50mph limit has already been agreed for this stretch of road, but has yet to be introduced.

Norman Hume, county councillor responsible for highways, said the A127 could be the first road in Essex to get the new cameras as a permanent feature.

He hoped average speed cameras, as opposed to the familiar Gatso roadside units could reduce the number of injuries - almost 400 - sustained in accidents on the problem stretch in the past five years.

"People just slow down for Gatso cameras and then speed up again," Mr Hume explained.

"It is not like there is a corner where most of the accidents are happening. It is all along the route.

"Average speed cameras measure the speed of a car as it enters, then leaves a road and its average speed is measured. If it goes over the limit, a ticket is issued."

Average speed cameras, with their distinctive blue ironwork gantries are already operating on the A13 in Cambridgeshire and Kent.

Thousands of Essex drivers have experienced them on the M25, just south of the Dartford Crossing, where they enforce a 50mph limit through road works around the A2 junction.

Essex County Council spokesman Scott Wilson said the stretch of the A127 had witnessed more than 260 accidents in the past five years, resulting in nearly 400 casualties,.

"We will shortly be announcing the measures we intend to take to ensure accidents on this road east of Rayleigh are reduced," he added.

The average speed camera proposals have yet to go before the county council's cabinet for final approval.

Benfleet RAC patrolman Paul Brett said he believed cameras could help to reduce accidents on the busy dual carriageway.

Mr Brett, 49, said: "I use the road every day and think the 50mph speed limit would be a good thing.

"There have been too many accidents and deaths on that road.

"If average speed cameras bring that down, I'm all for it.

"I think it would be better, though, to have cameras from the A130 junction east, towards Southend."

Anna Waite, Southend councillor responsible for transport, was rather less welcoming.

She said: "I don't like speed cameras.

"I like to look at other measures first, but this is in Essex's jurisdiction and it must see it as the sensible course of action.

"There have been serious accidents along that stretch and it is important to prevent them happening."