Metric Transport and Signs Links from this page: No right of veto Roads and highways Canals and rivers Railways and tramlines The ferocious attack on pounds and ounces over the past five years has obscured moves by the government against another major component of our traditional system, the use of miles by Britain's road traffic, pedestrians, waterways and railways. Many people are under the impression that, for the purposes of speed and distance signs, Britain enjoys an "indefinite exemption" from the EC's metric conversion requirements. In almost all instances, including roads, we regret to report that this is not the case; the government has no guarantee from the EC that Britain cannot be compelled to convert to metric signs should the EC wish it. If, at any future point, the EC requires Britain convert to kilometres, Britain has no right of veto over this matter. This fact may, or may not, be the reason for the government's inability to make a statement of principle regarding the future use of miles and yards on Britain's roads. When asked its position, the government says that it has no current plans to change road signs BUT that it will consider doing so when most drivers have been educated in metric. This will not be until 2006, but there is already growing evidence that the government is already gearing up for K-Day along Britain's roads and highways. With regards to signs along Britain's canals and rivers, these are already caught by EC regulations and the government has dutifully made it clear that these will go metric accordingly. This is despite longstanding opposition by waterway preservation groups and the the cost and damage that metric conversion would cause to the waterways. Metric is also on the advance on the railways and tramlines. Only in shipping and aviation do UK units seem secure; nautical miles, knots, and feet for measuring altitude, protected by international agreements and outside the scope of EC directives. John Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrt�mlich glaubt frei zu sein. There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they are free! Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
