Drivers risk traffic chaos as police officers disappear from roads - 'Can only be seen as bad'

This represents a 21 per cent decrease across the 43 police forces responsible for keeping motorways and roads safe.

The figures encompass various specialist roles, from traffic patrol units to officers working within speed enforcement partnerships, all of which have experienced significant cuts.

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Frontline traffic patrols have been hit particularly hard, with officers actively patrolling in vehicles dropping by 22 per cent.

These mobile units have shrunk from 5,005 officers a decade ago to just 3,889 currently, representing a loss of 1,116 personnel.

Even speed camera enforcement teams have not escaped the reductions, though the impact has been less severe.

Officers working in safety camera partnerships, formally termed casualty reduction partnerships, have decreased from 186 to 144 over the same period.

This amounts to 42 fewer officers focused on mobile speed enforcement operations across England and Wales.

Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, has warned that this decade-long decline poses serious risks to road safety enforcement.

He said: "It's clear from our analysis that the number of officers dedicated to roads policing is at a 10-year low which can only be seen as bad for the enforcement of motoring laws."

The expert emphasised that the visible presence of patrol vehicles plays a crucial psychological role in deterring dangerous driving.

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"The deterrent value of 'cops in cars' should not be underestimated," Mr Williams stated, noting that reduced police visibility may embolden those willing to break traffic laws.

Research conducted by the RAC reveals that responsible motorists harbour significant worries about lawbreakers on the roads, ranging from speeding and impaired driving to mobile phone use and aggressive behaviour.

Mr Williams highlighted that surveyed drivers also expressed concerns about untaxed and uninsured vehicles sharing the roads.

Despite the proliferation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology over the past decade, the organisation argues that this cannot fully replace the impact of visible police patrols.

Mr Williams said: "We'd very much like to see a return to having more officers on traffic duty, or significant new measures introduced to crack down on those who break the rules of the road."

Ministers are preparing to unveil the country's first comprehensive road safety strategy in more than ten years, which is expected to be released later this year.

The RAC said it hopes substantial initiatives will emerge to reduce casualties and enhance road safety.

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh pledged that the road safety strategy would contain reforms designed to slash the number of deaths and injuries caused across the transport network.