SHOCKING figures show there were 17 crashes in just 30 days on the A127.

The figures, compiled by the Echo, show that between March 19 and April 17 there were 17 separate blockages on the dual carriageway between Southend and the M25 turnoff.

In the past nine days alone – from April 9 to April 17 – there have been eight crashes on the road, notably last Wednesday, when crashes during both the morning and evening rush hours caused major delays for drivers.

Figures from Essex Police show officers have been called out to deal with 42 different casualties from January to March.

With the absence of huge investment plus the road’s configuration making it difficult for the track to be widened to three lanes, we asked motorists what they thought was the main issue with the A127 in an online poll – and 41 per cent of respondents said it was due to the standard of driving.

Driving instructor Tariq Musaji, who runs Wickfordbased driving school Farrah Driver Training, agreed with the findings of the poll.

He said: “If people drive a bit more sensibly, and a bit more defensively, then I’m sure accidents will go down.

“I don’t think the average speed cameras work as a deterrant. People speed up and slow down at their leisure, and if you go to court, you can plead that you need your licence for your work and end up still driving with like 24 points.

Magistrates are too lenient.

“The actions of drivers are the biggest contributors to the accidents, in my opinion.

“People should watch out for fatigue, which is a bigger cause of crashes than drink.”

The crashes and blockages now mean a 30-minute journey from Southend regularly takes drivers 90 minutes to complete a journey of just over 10 miles.

Joanna Butterworth, who commutes from Eastwood to Waltham Abbey every day, said: “Every morning and evening rush hour is a crawl, something needs to be done to address the situation.

“I think the main issue with the road is there are just too many vehicles wanting to use it, and whilst it may have been able to cope with the traffic in the past, in more recent years it can’t.

“I would like to see third lane added to some of the worst affected stretches of the road, for example the M25 junction, A128 junction and Basildon junctions.

“There is a third lane in areas of both the A13 and the A12, so why not the A127?”

Motorcyclist Druscilla Duke, 40, of Shenfield, added: “The road is getting more dangerous.

“White van man, coaches, and the like all create dangers even though they are not always involved in the impact. There are too many people texting and on phones.”