I WOULD like to make a plea to the motorists and cyclists of North Yorkshire over the manner in which vehicles approach major roads from a side road.

Without exaggeration, the only reason I have survived this winter cycling is because I ride defensively. For those who do not understand this term, it simply means always expect the unexpected.

Never assume because you are on a well-lit road, wearing high-visibility clothing, with working front and rear lights, that other vehicles will see you.

On three occasions this winter, the only reason I avoided a collision between myself and other motor vehicles was because I anticipated the actions of the drivers.

Two of the incidents involved cars joining Stockton Lane from well-lit side roads, and would probably resulted in "minor" injury to myself.

The third occasion involved a refuse wagon while I was on the Stockton Lane-Malton Road roundabout. From his high speed I knew he had not seen me and I was forced to stop. When he did glance forward and saw me he braked hard and stopped next to me on the roundabout. The driver did apologise, but had I not anticipated his actions I would not have been around to hear him.

As a car driver of 26 years, I understand we all have lapses of concentration, but when approaching a junction please take a moment not only to check for vehicles approaching, but crucially anyone directly in front, as this seems to be a blind spot for some motorists.

I have sympathy for drivers when many cyclists make no effort to make themselves visible, but short of attaching fireworks to my cycle helmet and setting them off at road junctions, there is little more I can do.

IM Fox, Sandy Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, York.