I am a governor at a Berkshire School, where we recently lost a pupil in a fatal accident, where he fell from a cycle lane into the path of a car.

No blame could attributed to either the cyclist or the driver, but it brought home to all pupils at the school of the hazards of cycling.

In recalling this accident, I am also drawing to the attention of parents in the Devizes community the many thoughtless acts of bravado by child cyclists that I have witnessed in

recent weeks. Many seem either to be oblivious to the dangers or simply careless in the presence of 'heavier metal'. Can I, therefore, draw their

attention to the work of the county council's road safety team and, especially, the availability of their junior Highway Code, Arrive Alive. Four pages of very relevant guidance are allocated, for example, to the need to be seen and the avoidance of wearing of a personal stereo while cycling.

Finally, could I exhort all headmasters in the Devizes area to provide constant reminders to their cycling pupils of the need to exercise extreme care in traffic and to be sensible in

acknowledging the presence of pedestrians and other, bigger vehicles on the road. It is cool to be careful.

N Carter

Great Western Close

Devizes