ONE morning recently my wife and I were driving towards Cutteslowe on the A40 when we suddenly came upon four council workers (judging by their blue uniforms) picking up the litter from the central reservation.

This was on the westbound carriageway between Mr Ward’s farm at the former Marston turn and the bridge across the River Cherwell.

Only one of them wore high-visibility yellow clothing.

I very much appreciate the work they were doing. I had already seen the neat row of filled grey bags positioned along the cycle track over several hundred metres to my left but I didn’t appreciate the total lack of any kind of warning that they were working there in the middle of the carriageway beyond the brow of the hill.

A couple of the litter pickers were actually working no more than a metre from the edge of the carriageway.

A couple of other surprised drivers to my immediate right in lane two then braked, with one vehicle almost colliding with the other in front, right next to us.

Driving habits of some drivers do I agree, leave a lot to be desired. Certainly we were being passed by traffic, including the two mentioned, travelling well in excess of the 70mph speed limit and travelling far too close to the vehicle in front, which is a recipe for disaster under any circumstances.

The lack of protection or warning for those lads working in such a dangerous environment not only put their lives or well-being into question but could also have caused a serious, yet avoidable incident involving at least eight people and traffic on the carriageway.

My dad always taught us, when driving, to always expect the unexpected. How true that was that morning.

I would hope whoever is responsible for the very welcome work that was being done will ensure that this type of situation never ever arises again.

i’m more than amazed that the lads working actually allowed themselves to be put in harm’s way but whoever was in charge really needs to turn to the page marked Risk Assessment. My old safety instructor always said “accidents don't happen, they are always caused, either by someone doing something they shouldn’t, or not doing something they should”.

Come on lads, you are appreciated but try to keep yourselves and everyone else safe at the same time by acting more appropriately in future.

DAVID WILLIAMS, David Walter Close, Oxford