A SPEEDING driver clocked at 89mph was the fastest motorist snapped by a speed camera in Colchester over the past year, new data reveals.

The driver was caught at the reckless speed on the London-bound A12 between Eight Ash Green and Marks Tey where there is a temporary 50mph limit.

Average speed cameras are in place between these junctions as National Highways continues its reconstruction of the road.

The 89mph speed was the highest recorded by Essex Police in the Colchester borough in the year to May 2023, a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Gazette revealed.

Gazette: Calm before the storm - the A12 at Marks Tey before the roadworks startedCalm before the storm - the A12 at Marks Tey before the roadworks started (Image: Newsquest)

The data exposed the A12 between Eight Ash Green and Marks Tey as the worst spot for drivers putting their foot down.

The speed cameras in place were shown to be the busiest in the borough in terms of activations.

They were followed by the device in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester and at the Goring Road junction of Harwich Road.

The speed camera on the A120 at Horsley Cross, near Clacton Road, was the fourth most activated over the past year and the device in London Road, Stanway, the fifth.

Gazette: Busy - the speed camera in Cowdray AvenueBusy - the speed camera in Cowdray Avenue (Image: Google)

Drivers have mostly obeyed the 40mph limit in Southway with its camera catching the fewest amount of speeding motorists.

And in contrast to the London-bound carriageway, the cameras in place between Marks Tey and Eight Ash Green on the Colchester-bound A12 caught the second fewest speeders.

The new information comes as Essex Police appealed to motorists to drive with care this summer.

Last year, 48 people died on the county’s roads as a result of collisions.

Gazette: Caught out - the speed camera in Harwich RoadCaught out - the speed camera in Harwich Road (Image: Google)

A police spokesman said: “During the summer months we see more people on the road heading off to our beaches and beauty spots to enjoy some time in the sun with family and friends.

“It means we have more vehicles on the roads, especially at weekends and bank holidays, including our more vulnerable two-wheel users.”

He added: “We'd ask all motorists to take care by keeping to the speed limit.”