Hi Phil,
I hate to be a nay-sayer, but I noticed on this site that the minimum speed
limit sign is almost exactly like the maximum speed limit sign, i.e. a red
circle around a white field with black letters. The only difference with the
maximum speed limit is that English text above the sign. Thus, some people
are likely to confuse the minimum and maximum speed limit signs.
Why couldn't those in charge use a blue field for the minimum speed? I
suggest anyone who agrees contact the FWHA. Here's the letter I just sent:
Dear FHWA,
I was studying the Notice of Proposed Amendments dated May 21, 2002 on the web
site
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-millennium_npa.htm
I was surpised to see that the proposed new MINIMUM speed limit sign in km/h
is roughly equivalent to the international MAXIMUM speed limit sign used over
much of the world, i.e., a black number on a white field surrounded by a red
circle.
I hope the FHWA will consider the advantages of matching the American minimum
speed limit sign with the internationally recognized standard of white
letters on a circular blue field. This is only a slight change to the
proposed amendments, and would provide three advantages:
1. It would avoid confusion between minimum and maximum speed limit
signs,
which as-proposed look nearly identical
2. Many foreign-born drivers would immediately understand the meaning
of the
sign, making the roads safer for all of us on the road
3. Americans driving abroad would already understand international
maximum
and minimum speed limit signs
As a final note, I would like to point out that the reason that the federal
government in the past required signage in km/h was to match American
highways to existing international standards. Creating new, non-standard
signs to some extent defeats this purpose.
Thank you for your consideration,
On Mercredi 03 Septembre 2003 14:59, Phil Chernack wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am new to this list but have been following it for the past couple of
> weeks. I noted John's post with interest as I feel the same way. To do an
> orderly conversion of road signs to metric, the U.S. Federal government
> needs to mandate automobile manufacturers start selling cars with
> predominately metric instrumentation. For the past 25 years, speedometers
> have displayed both English (wombat) and metric with English predominate.
> With a change in automobile speedometers and odometers, changing road
> signage will be a no-brainer. Also, if auto manufacturers were required to
> give fuel economy in liters per 100 km, we would also have the incentive to
> change gas stations over to liters. I would rather pay $.43/liter than
> $1.64/gallon. This change may also be the incentive that Great Britain
> needs to make the change as well. What is more telling perhaps, is that
> the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (the master guide for all
> road agencies in the U.S.) has standards for metric road signs. The MUCTD
> can be viewed in the following location: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/. The
> best part of this though, is that Revision 2
> (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-millennium_npa.htm) changes the metric speed
> limit sign to be different than the traditional speed limit sign. The new
> metric speed limit sign is much closer to the international standard of the
> speed in a red circle with the legend "km/h" below on one panel. With this
> sign, there should be no confusion on what it means. Besides, I would much
> rather drive at 110 km/h than 65 m.p.h. It's much cooler.
