58 drivers in Essex caught distracted at wheel more than once
In a period of four years
Last updated 23rd Jan 2022
Essex had the fourth highest number of drivers caught multiple times distracted at the wheel over the past four years.
Figures showed the DVLA caught 58 people in the county distracted at the wheel, and gave them CU80 endorsements on their licences.
CU80 endorsements are given to people who are caught not in control of their vehicles, such as by using a mobile phone while driving.
Only Greater London, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands had higher numbers of people distracted whilst driving.
However, The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) says rates aren't necessarily higher in Essex than elsewhere, drivers are just more likely to get caught.
SERP chair Nicola Foster said:
"The prevalence of recorded road traffic offences is a reflection of policing levels and is not a reliable measure of the underlying compliance with the law.
“If we had no roads policing then we wouldn’t be able to record any traffic offences, making it appear everyone in Essex is a perfect driver.
“The high prevalence in Essex is indicative of the investment made in roads policing in the county, making Essex one of the places that you are most likely to get caught for road traffic offences.
“Essex has more traffic than any other local highway authority area in the country - including Southend and Thurrock, which are also covered by Essex Police, DfT figures show 8.9 billion vehicle miles driven in Essex in 2020.
“More traffic means more offences for Essex Police to detect.”
Overall, 932 British drivers were convicted for the offence more than once over the same time period, with one driver being caught nine times.