Motorists have been urged to take care this summer after nine fatal collisions were investigated by Thames Valley Police in the last month.

The fatal road traffic collisions were attended and dealt with by Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit officers across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire in just 19 days between May 9 and 28.

It is suspected the ‘fatal 4’ offences - excessive speed, not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone and drink/drug driving - were involved in the vast majority of incidents.

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These offences are the leading causes of serious injury and death on UK roads.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Bettington, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “We need the public to slow down, wear their seatbelts, not use their phones and not drink/drug drive.

“This is the case every day but we’re noticing the impact more so as we reach the warmer months.

“Roads Policing is experiencing a high level of work at this time through needless, tragic collisions that could all have been avoided."

On May 9, a woman in her 70’s died in a crash near Banbury when her grey Mazda MX-5 collided with a black Vauxhall Corsa on the A361.

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A few days later on May 12, a man in his 30s died when his car swerved off the road and hit a tree on the A391 between Chipping Norton and Banbury.

Motorcyclist Matthew Marriage, 24, died in hospital after his grey Ducati Monster motorbike collided with a Vauxhall Zafira on the A4074 between Nuneham Courtenay and Berinsfield on May 15.

Oxford Mail: Matthew Marriage was the oldest of four brothers and worked as a mechanic in Chalgrove

His family paid tribute to the ‘happy-go-lucky boy’ and ‘brilliant brother’ earlier this month.

Oxford Mail: Front (left to right) Mathew Marriage's parents Gail and Steve, and behind, his younger brothers

Detective Chief Inspector Bettington added: “Our family liaison officers are working with families to help bring them answers as to how and why their loved ones died on our roads.

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“Where we have the evidence, we will be prosecuting drivers for offences of death by careless or death by dangerous driving which can receive a maximum of 14 years in prison. 

“Everyone wants to enjoy the good weather of the summer months and this usually brings a greater volume and mix of vehicles onto our roads.

“I need people to take more time for their journeys, plan ahead, nominate a designated driver, make sure everyone in their vehicle is wearing a seatbelt and not to use phones while driving.

“Any one of these offences can and tragically do lead to loss of life on our roads and unless all of the public adhere to these basics we will continue to suffer needless fatalities.”