Dear Han, I am delighted that the Irish are taking this major step toward metrication. Metrication of road signs is a major step forward in the socialisation of metric units - all of a sudden the Irish public will fully realise that metric measures are here to stay and that they are socially acceptable - you can even talk about them in public.
However. I am saddened by a thought contained within clause 5.3: 'to advise drivers of the speeds limits applying and of the approximate imperial equivalents (to facilitate drivers more accustomed to imperial units)'. This looks like a small step down the long, long, road of dual units. I believe that this is a most unnecessary error, that is based on completely false conjectures about the intelligence and learning skills of Irish and visiting drivers. Hhrrrmmmph! Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia Pat Naughtin is the editor of the free online newsletter, 'Metrication matters'. You can subscribe by sending an email containing the words subscribe Metrication matters to [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- on 28/1/04 7:03 AM, Han Maenen at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> From the Report of the Working Group, posted some time ago to this list: > > 11.5 The promotion of the recommendations contained in this report will have > a direct impact on two particular industries. In the first instance sign > manufacturers will need to prepare for the supply of signs both for the > replacement of current speed limit signs and for the implementation of the > programme to sign the proposed new national road default speed limit. In > addition the motor supply industry will have to gear up for the replacement > of imperial speedometers and odometers by metric equivalents. Based on > assessments carried out on behalf of the Working Group by the Department of > the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Roads > Authority, it is conservatively estimated that the cost of the signage > programme necessitated to provide for the implementation of this programme > would be in the region of ?8 million. > > I send hereby the entire report for new members (Word attachment, virus > checked) > > Han > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Chimpsarecute > To: U.S. Metric Association > Sent: Saturday, 2004-01-24 19:13 > Subject: [USMA:28362] Irish metric > > > Some interesting postings? Will Irish cars also follow the switch to metric > speed limit signs? > > http://www.ideamerge.com/motoeuropa/ireland/bulletinboard/index.html > > Any further information on the conversion? > > Euric > > <snip> > >
