So, Chris, what's the story here? Anything really new? As for the surveys cited, how is it that young people still think in Imperial?
Ezra Nat Hager III wrote: > In the Scotsman today... > > Nat > > ------------------------ > > The Scotsman > July 12, 2002, Friday > SECTION: Pg. 1 > LENGTH: 272 words > HEADLINE: MILE SET TO FADE AWAY AND DIE > BYLINE: Alison Hardie > BODY: > > THE mile, the last bastion of the Imperial system, is to be phased out - but > not until many more of those baffled by the kilometre have died off. > > The government quietly announced yesterday that road signs for distances and > speed limits will be given in kilometres under European harmonisation > regulations. David Jamieson, the transport minister, said there were no > immediate plans to ditch miles and yards yet, but the time was rapidly > approaching. > > He added: "Although many drivers are familiar with metric units, it would > not be appropriate to fix a date for converting speed limit and distance > signs while there is still likely to be a significant proportion of drivers > for whom the change could be confusing." > > A source in the Department of Transport said the government would wait only > until older drivers who were not familiar with metric units were in a > minority before pressing ahead with meeting an EU directive set in 1980. > > Imperial campaigners condemned the plans as a "logistical nightmare" and > vowed to fight the government through the courts to save road signs in > miles. One campaigner said: "Numerous independent surveys have shown that 75 > per cent of the population, including those between 18 and 20, think in > Imperial and not metric. If the government is serious about waiting until a > majority thinks in metric, they will have a long wait - most people driving > now would have to be dead." > > A kilometre is 0.621 of a mile. However, it is thought the government will > not reset a 70mph sign at the accurate conversion of 110kph, but at 100kph > in an attempt to reduce accidents.
