THE safety message for motorists is that "Speed Kills" and I am sure that it does. At least in the wrong hands and the wrong place, after all Damon Hill and his mate seem to survive, but then they are not on our local roads.

But let us take another aspect when it is the slowness of traffic that causes accidents; we never seem to hear of accidents caused by slow-moving traffic, and I am sure they must occur.

Only recently, to give an example, I was in a long line of traffic between Studley and Alcester following a JCB at about 20mph. This for a distance of some five miles, on a two-lane road, past lay-bys. Some of the motorists were overtaking, white lines or not, just to make better progress, and there were some very near misses with oncoming traffic.

So we have the JCBs and tractors and combine harvesters who have to move to conduct their business, although I have followed some for over 10 miles. Then we have the cars who travel at 30mph, in good conditions, on a national Limit A road (60mph). All causing massive tailbacks, which the drivers should be aware of if they use their rear-view mirrors.

The other side of the coin is the "Boy Racer" who has one speed anywhere. Then somewhere in between comes the honest motorist who sets off in good time to catch a train/keep an appointment etc who cannot afford to lose 10 minutes following a tractor for several miles without it pulling over to let traffic overtake.

It makes one think doesn't it!

Yes, the cars that don't travel at more than 30mph because the drivers are not up to it should be barred from the roads, at least it would be a positive start, but what about the others?

So please you slow moving drivers, in the interests of safety, pull over into the lay-bys, or even road openings, and let the other motorists past to get on with their business.

ERIC MARSH, Offenham.