The organisers of the race should have been in the dock

I HAVE followed the accident involving the army officer and female driver with increasing confusion. While she was the instrument of Major Rhys-Evans death, she was certainly not solely responsible. The others who should have been in the dock were th

I HAVE followed the accident involving the army officer and female driver with increasing confusion.

While she was the instrument of Major Rhys-Evans' death, she was certainly not solely responsible.

The others who should have been in the dock were the [competition's] governing body whose rules allowed the race, the host cycling club which arranged it, and lastly, and certainly not least, the people in Cambridgeshire police who agreed that the race could proceed despite the history of fatal accidents (and near misses) on that stretch of the A1 where whole families have been wiped out.

In my teens in the 1950s, the National Cyclists Union, of which my step-father was an official, ran time trials on the road, but on closed circuits monitored by the police. All junctions were closed-off with barriers and police signs. TTs were run regularly and safely under these rules.

I recognise that there was less traffic but with a bit of thought there are back roads in this area over which races, under NCU style rules, could be run.

These events could also try using warning notices, have temporary lower speed limits and the inside lane coned off.

Why the cyclists should deliberately put their lives at risk under such abysmal conditions beggars belief.

RICHARD GAMBLING

Milton Avenue

Eaton Ford