[USMA:46932] Benchmark Ireland

[Stephen Humphreys]

I know some here are interested in how metrication has worked, or not, in other 
countries.
I went to Ireland this weekend (to Dublin actually) - anyone who knows my 
nationality might understand why!! 
As per all my recent trips there the signs were, of course, in metric.  This 
time we rented a car for the weekend because (get this) it was cheaper to rent 
a car and drive it to Dublin from the airport and leave it for the weekend then 
drive it back than the cost of a taxi to do the same! The only signs that 
weren't in metric were those for height and width.  These had both imperial and 
metric.  I wonder if the reason is to fend off any compensation claims for 
damaged vehicles.  These days of 'compensation culture' as Prince Charles has 
called it.
Some here are more interested in the usage of measures 'in real life' rather 
than via mandate (reality versus rules).  We had to ask three separate police 
officers (Garda) directions somewhere and each one used hundreds of yards when 
talking walking distance.  Also taxi drivers spoke in miles when we asked about 
various things. It's been some time since Ireland switched so it is interesting 
to hear the use of imperial for walking (and thus road) distances.  I wonder if 
it's simply down to 'convenient talking' - ie that 'yard' is single syllable to 
'metre's' two.
All fairly interesting regarding W&M (imho)
SteveH                                    
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