MOTORISTS have joined senior politicians in wanting to see lorries banned from overtaking on the A12.

Essex County Council has long called for a ban on the major route, and now drivers have joined it after a series of collisions across Essex last week left many roads blocked on the same morning.

The Highways Agency, responsible for motorways and other major roads across the country, such as the A12, has warned preventing lorries overtaking would be dangerous and would not reduce congestion.

County Hall is looking at a similar ban on the A130 after a collision between two lorries and two cars on the road caused chaos last week. County Hall is responsible for the road, so a ban is possible.

Driver Alex Robinson, 23, of Chelmsford, regularly uses the A12. He said: “From the point of view of a busy person trying to get from A to B, it can be quite frustrating and annoying when two lorries are in front of you and one is overtaking and holds you up.”

Mr Robinson added that he did have concerns over how the rule could be enforced.

Councillor Rodney Bass, in charge of highways, said: “We are disappointed and frustrated that people are being held up and the Essex economy is being damaged by incidents involving lorries and sheer bad driving, for which there is no justification.

“We are calling again on the Highways Agency to immediately introduce an overtaking ban on the A12 for lorries between 6am and 8pm.”

A Highways spokesman said the frequency of junctions along the A12 meant a ban wouldn’t prove effective in reducing congestion.