A heartfelt plea to runners on risky road

As the former leader of a local running club, I’d like to beg joggers not to use the route up from Taplow towards Cliveden for training runs.

This is a fast, narrow cut-through to Beaconsfield just about wide enough for two cars.

I frequently see runners on this and other roads with their backs to the traffic, dressed in dark colours and wearing ear buds.

It’s madness!

Please, unless you are hell-bent on suicide, face the traffic so you can see what’s coming and dive in to a hedge if necessary, wear something bright or reflective so drivers can see you and don’t listen to music while you run.

Yes, it’s motivating but you won’t hear what’s coming.

The same applies to walkers and to cyclists.

This has become a popular route for leisure cyclists and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stuck behind a cyclist dressed in all-black, blithely unaware that he has a dozen cars trailing along at 15 miles an hour behind him until one of them, utterly frustrated, takes a risk and overtakes on a blind bend...

Nuff said!