ON a busy day after Christmas, my wife was walking along the crowded "pedestrian precinct" of Davygate, when she was pushed over from behind by a slowly and quietly moving car.

Her foot was trapped under a front wheel and she sustained a broken bone which is now in plaster for six weeks, leaving her temporarily disabled.

If the wheel had gone another inch on to her foot, many bones would have been crushed, leaving her permanently disabled.

The mix of pedestrians and vehicles parking and driving in precincts such as Davygate has always worried me and my fears have, regrettably, been proved right. The street is potentially a facility for disabling people. Vehicles should be totally banned and disabled people should be provided with a safe alternative. Their cars should be parked elsewhere and small electric vehicles provided for them to move around in pedestrian areas.

Two other alternatives might be an acceptable compromise: either close pedestrian precincts to all vehicles at busy times, as I believe happens in Leeds; or fit bleepers to all vehicles for disabled people, similar to those used by commercial vehicles when reversing, so that pedestrians are aware of their approach. Let me say that I am not opposed to special facilities for disabled people.

For several years, I worked to provide facilities in a sailing club for disabled sailors and trained them to sail.

But we must not add to the numbers of disabled people by providing inappropriate facilities such as parking and access in Davygate pedestrian precinct.

Finally, can I say how much I was heartened by the ready assistance given by many passers-by, who immediately came to my wife's assistance with phone calls to the emergency services and who provided first aid until the ambulance arrived.

David Wright, York Road Haxby.

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "The accident involving Mr Wright's wife was no doubt very distressing and extremely regrettable. It is however extremely rare for accidents of this nature to take place within the footstreets, which is a testimony to the responsible way that the vast majority of drivers with disabled badges behave.

"The footstreets in York have been a huge success in increasing the attractiveness of the city centre for all those who use it.

"The debate about access for vehicles covered by disabled badges has been had many times. It has always been concluded that their access is vitally important and that there is no other practical option that offers the same flexibility to them that the rest of us enjoy.

"Exempted drivers who do enter the footstreets must drive according to the conditions and accept that pedestrians have the right of way, so anyone causing the accident described by Mr Wright would almost certainly be liable to be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention."