SUFFOLK police are today warning motorists to take extra care on the roads as the onset of winter brings darker nights.Chief Inspector Martin-Barnes Smith, head of Suffolk Constabulary's Road Policing unit said that 61 per cent of fatal accidents on Suffolk's roads this year have happened during non-daylight hours.

SUFFOLK police are today warning motorists to take extra care on the roads as the onset of winter brings darker nights.

Chief Inspector Martin-Barnes Smith, head of Suffolk Constabulary's Road Policing unit said that 61 per cent of fatal accidents on Suffolk's roads this year have happened during non-daylight hours.

He said: “Drivers need to give due consideration to the prevailing conditions at the time of driving.

“In poor weather and visibility conditions if your journey is absolutely necessary allow extra time to get to your destination.”

Last night rush hour motorists got caught in huge tailbacks on the A14 following a crash between a car and a lorry on the Felixstowe bound carriageway near Nacton.

The crash, between a silver Peugeot and a lorry, happened at around 5pm and left vehicles queuing back from Nacton to Copdock. One person was taken to Ipswich Hospital for treatment.

The road was blocked for nearly two hours, while the emergency services worked to clear the scene. One lane was re-opened at about 5.30pm and the other at about 7.10pm but motorists continued to face severe delays while they waited for the jams to start moving.

One driver who was travelling from Ipswich to Nacton, said: “I normally get home by about 5.30pm but I didn't get there till 6.15pm.

“It was really frustrating but there is nothing you can do. I was travelling out of Ipswich on Wherstead Road and the traffic was really bad so I turned round and basically went all round Ipswich to get home as it was clear there had been an accident around the Orwell Bridge.

“It is very annoying.”

The Evening Star has long campaigned for improvements to the A14 and the speed in which accidents are cleared to avoid situations where motorists are left gridlocked for hours.

Suffolk County Council and the Highways Agency have joined together in a Road Safety Partnership to discuss what improvements can be made and are holding their next meeting after Christmas.

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