The importance of young cyclists using protective headgear and adequate lighting has been raised, following the tragic death of a paperboy.
An inquest into the death of 13-year-old William Walford Grant from South Woodford heard of "terrible and tragic consequences" of the accident.
But coroner Elizabeth Stearns questioned whether his life might have been saved if he had worn a helmet, and had more reflectors and lighting on his bike.
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At Walthamstow Corners Court last Thursday, Mrs Stearns asked PC Christopher Dunn, from the traffic investigation unit at Chadwell Heath, whether it could have made a difference.
He said: "We can never say for sure whether this would have made a difference to the injuries William suffered, but as a tutor of cycling proficiency, I make it the first rule for youngsters."
William, of Cheyne Avenue, died on November 8 last year not long after he set out for his paper round on his bicycle.
He was fatally injured in Woodford Road when his bike was in collision with a Volkswagen Golf.
Despite treatment at the scene, William, who suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, was later pronounced dead at Whipps Cross Hospital.
Mrs Stearns said the inquest was "handicapped" because there were no independent witnesses to the accident or anyone who could say if William was riding or walking his bike across the road, although it was "likely" he was riding it across.
She said: "It appeared that William was in collision with the car as he left a central traffic island; precisely where exactly has not been established. He had no light on the bicycle, just two reflectors, one at the front and one on the back. There were none on the wheels of the bike and his orange paper bag had no reflective strip.
"How clear the visibility of him was that morning is also not known. There is also no conclusion that excessive speed played a part in this terrible and tragic accident."
PC Dunn said that the road in which the accident happened, did "lend"
itself to drivers speeding, because of it being the old A11.
But he said in this case, there was no evidence to suggest the accident was caused by the driver speeding.
Investigations carried out by traffic police found that the car was "probably being driven around the speed limit of 30mph, quite possibly below it".
A statement taken from the driver of the car, Jamie Orton, was read out in court.
He told police: "It happened in a split second. I saw a movement, then it was like black on black, he was over the top of my car. My windscreen was smashed and it took me a few seconds to realise what had happened."
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