AT THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY: Slow drivers lead us on the road to ruin.

Byline: andrew FORGRAVE

AS a frequent user of North Wales' road system, I can sympathise with drivers who believe slow-moving vehicles a republic enemy number one.

The region's twisty roads do not allow for much overtaking. And even when a straighter stretch finally presents itself, drivers need to keep eyes peeled for Brunstrom's ticket collectors.

A long journey staring down the back end of a lumbering lorry requires infinite patience. You need to remind yourself of the bigger picture -- visit any coroner's court and you'll soon discover that rash overtaking manoeuvres are responsible for the majority of road deaths.

I've often wondered why the road etiquette element of the Highways Code is rarely enforced by the police. The code requires drivers of slow-moving vehicles to pull over ``at the earliest and safest opportunity'' to allow faster traffic past.

The benefits are obvious: half -a-dozen stops may add 15 minutes to a two-hour journey, but it will save several cumulative hours for other drivers -- and save lives.

To its credit the Farmers Union of Wales is calling on its members to defuse road rage by moving over and allowing faster traffic to pass.

Instantly one thinks of tractors, but in my experience they are rarely a problem. This is one category of driver who, in the main, does actually pull over. And in any case, because of their very slow speed, tractors are relatively easy to overtake.

Bigger problems are caused by lorries, some older drivers and, worst ofall, caravans. God help me if I ever get stuck behind an elderly lorry driver towing an Avondale Argente super tourer.

Despite Margaret Beckett's penchant for continental towing holidays, I've nothing against caravan owners. I'm sure some pull over when necessary; but others singularly refuse to use their elongated wing mirrors to notice mile- long queues of irate drivers struggling in their wake.

Horsebox owners are road hoggers too. They really ought to know better. My mother-in-law's horse box has caused more lost driving hours than the A55's roadworks.

As the holiday season approaches, maybe it'll get better. Let's hope we see a summer of loving drivers and no queues.

HOW would we survive without Labour MP Tony Banks?The member for West Ham has made much of his Early Day Motion calling for the return of the Hunting Bill.

In it he reveals his cuddly, bunny-hugging side. At the same time he displays a worrying chip on a shoulder which, apparently, is broad enough to bear the sins of mankind.

Mr Banks' new EDM reads: ``This House is appalled, but barely surprised, at the revelations in M15files regarding the bizarre and inhumane proposals to use pigeons as flying bombs; recognises the important and life-saving role of carrier pigeons in two world wars and wonders at the lack of gratitude towards these gentle creatures; and believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out, thus giving nature the opportunity to start again. '' Er, quite, Tony.