I am sure many of your readers will fondly remember the Public Information films which were regularly shown on our televisions and in our cinemas.

Popular examples such as the Green Cross Code, Clunk Click Every Trip, Stop Look and Listen, Wear Something White at Night, got their ideas across in a fun and memorable way which helped viewers take on board the serious message and remember them all their lives.

Sadly, these films are no longer made and this is a sad loss because subsequent generations have missed out on the very useful advice they promoted.

Many of today’s road users seem to lack a basic awareness of road safety which was second nature to my generation.

I am writing this letter because I frequently see walkers, joggers, cyclists and horse riders wearing dark clothing when using our lanes and roads, and I hope that they take time to think about their own safety.

In the current gloomy light of winter, these people are often just shadows against our dark and high hedgerows and are at a high risk of accidents from vehicles, especially when it is also raining. 

The brown and green country wear usually worn by horse riders blends perfectly with our winter hedgerows, thus ensuring they are a shadow to drivers.

So please could they consider wearing something white or reflective and perhaps reflective gaiters for the horse if it is a dark colour.

This will give drivers more time to see you and thus slow down and pass at a safe speed. 

Please could walkers, joggers and cyclists ask themselves whether they would be easily seen, for example, by a courier van driver nearing the end of a stressful ten hour shift just coming around the bend checking his sat nav as it starts to rain?

Those extra milliseconds which reflective safety wear offer could be the difference between ending or continuing your pastime.

It goes without saying, of course, that walkers and joggers always face oncoming traffic but, sadly, many do not. 

Much of this advice is common sense but it beggars belief that a reflective tabard,which now costs less than a cup of coffee, is not worn by most joggers, walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

Please take a while to consider your own safety on our roads . . . You Know It Makes Sense! 

Mike O’Keefe, Wootton Courtenay