Editorial: Light up and be courteous

I know this subject has been done to death but I'm afraid if some people don't take notice it could be fatal.

I'm talking about road users and those who shouldn't be using the road - skateboarders and scooter riders.

It's winter. Come 5pm, dusk is falling and workers are heading to their cars or bikes for the journey home. By 5.15pm, there's that weird light between night and day. I think it's the worst time to drive.

Even on a clear day visibility is not that great. Concentrating on the road ahead is hard enough at this time of night with the dazzle of lights from a stream of oncoming traffic without worrying about unlit cyclists, skateboarders and a tribe of 10-year-olds on scooters hooning down the side of the road.

I cycle, so I'm all for sharing the road. However, please be sensible. Put on your lights and wear reflective clothes and shoes - anything that will make you stand out.

As for skateboarders and scooter riders, well they shouldn't even be on the road. It's terrifying to catch sight of a person on a skateboard out of the corner of your eye as you pass them.

You know you've missed hitting someone by inches. I really don't want someone's death on my conscience.

While discussing this in the newsroom, one of my colleagues suggested we adopt Japanese laws. Cyclists can use the footpaths but if they hit anybody or anything, it is their fault. Cars, of course, use the roads but if a driver hits a cyclist it's the driver's fault. No questions asked. Simple rules and my colleague tells me everyone is very polite and courteous.

Courtesy is good - be a courteous driver and cyclists (also runners and walkers if they intend to use the road), please be courteous enough to wear reflective gear and please light up.