Sir, - Could we have a better balance in the campaign to make our roads safer? Practically no attention has been paid to the nocturnal menace on rural Irish roads. I refer to the unilluminated pedestrian.In a small survey that I have taken since the advent of wintertime I have encountered 67 pedestrians, none of whom wore proper reflective clothing. Nowadays pedestrian usage of our roads, for both health and social reasons, is ever-increasing. Their potential contribution to our burgeoning accident statistics, if improperly illuminated, is surely evident.Might I suggest the following: (1) A publicity campaign advocating the wearing of, at the very least, a Sam Brown belt; (2) the publicising of statistics about the number of deaths and injuries where lack of pedestrian illumination was a major factor; (3) the mitigation by insurance companies of the degree to which drivers are culpable where an injured pedestrian was not wearing proper reflective clothing; (4) stringent application on the rule of law in regard to pedestrians who flout rules of the road.As a practicing GP I have had to attend a number of accidents which were unquestionably tragic for the bereaved families, but which also brought terrible pain to unfortunate motorists who were unable to see ambulant roadusers. So far this winter, there are 67 people in our bailiwick who should consider themselves lucky.Yours truly - the other potential statistic in my survey - certainly considers himself so. - Yours etc.,Dr Edward Harty,Lettermore Health Centre,Bealadangan,Co Galway.