THE level of serious crashes and casualties on the district’s roads has more than doubled in the space of a year.

Road safety data from the South Essex Road Partnership reveals that there were 55 serious casualties and two fatal crashes on all of the roads across Maldon, Burnham and the Dengie 100 in 2016, more than double the 2015 figure of 26.

Additionally, there were 46 serious collisions recorded, an increase of 25 from 2015.

In total, serious casualties for the district went up by 112 per cent. In comparison, Chelmsford’s road casualties increased by only 13 per cent, and Essex as a whole only increased by 28 per cent.

Burnham residents say motorists on the roads in the Dengie are becoming more and more reckless, and coupled with surface wear and tear are resulting in increased casualties.

Paul Etherton said: “In the Dengie there are poor road surfaces which aren't maintained properly, potholes which are so deep they force cars in to the middle of the road, plus dangerous and pointless road layouts but not subsidence on the bypass.

“It's also recommended by the Highway Code for cyclists to ride two abreast when in a group because it's a shorter formation for a car to pass. However because of the lack of knowledge and subsequent aggression from motorists most groups end up in a line which is longer and therefore harder to pass.

“Cyclists haven’t led to a 119 per cent increase in casualties, but we're an easy group to blame as you can just abuse us out the window and drive off.”

Burnham resident Sherif Harding said: “As a cyclist, the general standard of driving is appalling across the Dengie. People know they can get away with reckless driving and dangerous speeding because there are no cameras, no Police, and no speed bumps in residential areas.”

David Hopkins, of Lower Burnham Road, said: “Speed is the sole reason so many accidents happen along the Burnham bends. We get reckless drivers all the time zooming past our house.

“The roads themselves haven’t changed much, but the standard of driving has lost respect and become far more aggressive.”