I WAS walking my dog along a quiet country lane a few weeks ago when I heard a car approaching at speed. I pulled my dog towards me and we both squeezed into the hedge to get out of the way but the car hit us anyway. It also hit a cyclist who was coming from the opposite direction. The car (a taxi) then sped off without stopping.

Our injuries were not life-threatening but nonetheless very painful and the whole incident was very upsetting. We feel extremely fortunate to have survived, and we do not want to press charges against the driver, who must have been in a state of panic. We know that if we were to press charges, the taxi driver would lose their licence and therefore their job, and we don't see the point in creating another unemployed person in these times of recession.

But we do want you to print this to remind all drivers that you never know what is around the next corner, and just because a road is usually quiet doesn't mean that it will always be.  A competent driver should be able to drive along a road without hitting anybody.

I also want to use this letter to pass on our thanks to the girl on horseback who stopped to help us. At the time I didn't have the presence of mind to ask her name, but we were very thankful for her help.

Jackie Taylor