Tears welled in my eyes when I read about the 7-year-old boy on his bicycle, who was struck by a car in Newbury Park.

As a mother, I can't begin to imagine his family's pain. As a licensed driver, I can't realize the anguish that the motorist who hit the boy must be going through.

Thank you, T.O. Acorn, for your compassionate but educational "opinion" about the accident and for reiterating the California law that requires safety helmets for children.

Please remind fellow citizens about another California law that has been around since the 1970s for bicyclists and motor vehicle operators of all ages.

California Vehicle Code 27400 says, "A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears."

In other words, when riding your bicycle and listening to a portable music player, one earplug or headset covering one ear is okay, but two is not, even if the music is turned off.

With the popularity of iPods and other portable music devices, more bicyclists seem to be listening to music during their rides, and many are unaware of this law.

The rationalization behind the law is public safety, as bicycle riders need to stay alert to traffic, people and miscellaneous hazards. This holds true for road bicyclists and mountain bicyclists, even when riding on trails. Bonnie Clarfield-Bylin Thousand Oaks