WHILE cycling through Strensall, I saw two boys of perhaps ten years old cycling erratically off and on to the pavement.

Boys will be boys. However, I was appalled at the dangerous driving of the passing motorists. None slowed from their speed of approximately 35-plus-mph.

Two sounded their horns and one driver shouted abuse. I cycle in New Hampshire and on the Continent and the rules in those places are clear. Cyclists and pedestrians are barred from motorways and certain trunk roads.

Elsewhere, motorists must give way and respect cyclists and pedestrians. Any accident involving a vehicle is deemed to be the fault of the vehicle driver.

These rules should apply here to cut the appalling carnage on our roads.

Before you are inundated with irate comments from drivers complaining about cyclists not contributing to road costs, I should point out that most cyclists belong to car-owning households.

I would wager that both Strensall lads have cycle proficiency certificates and come from car-owning households, but they are boys and should grow up in residential areas safe from the biggest killer of children and the elderly - motorists.

JM Purves,

Crossways, York.

Updated: 11:11 Wednesday, June 25, 2003