Pedestrians and cyclists must wear lighter clothes to save lives – Yorkshire Post Letters

NOW that we are deep into winter, I would like to appeal to pedestrians to wear or carry something that shows up in the dark. I am not suggesting buying reflective armbands or jackets, but at least carry a white carrier bag or wear some lighter coloured clothing. As a driver, I find that people cross the road in ill-lit streets, clad completely in black, or other dark colours, and it is very difficult to see them.

While on the subject of driving, even in daylight, may I request other drivers not to leave a three-foot gap between their car and parked vehicles, especially on narrow roads, or on those where people park on both sides of a road. I sometimes feel pushed almost to mount a pavement or to risk hitting parked cars on my side, when passing opposing traffic.

From: Henry Cobden, Ilkley.

DRIVING the other day, I had a very lucky escape. I went round a corner and there were a pair of cyclists, riding two abreast, going up an hill after dusk in very dark clothing and virtually invisible reflector lights.

I had to brake hard to avoid them, and I was barely doing 15mph in a 30mph area Yet, if there had been a collision, I would have been deemed to be at fault. That’s not right, is it?

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