Compared to driving on the other side of the road, and worse yet being a pedestrian at interesections, (I've had a couple embarrassing moments on that one) converting speed limits is a cakewalk.
Nat -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Gallagher Sent: Thursday, 2004 December 30 11:09 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:31734] Re: Derry Journal The worry about having to "convert" speeds doesn't seem to stop people from the UK in taking their cars over to continental Europe. Brits have been driving their cars in France, Germany, the Netherlands, etc for years, and they've managed the difference quite easily. Additionally, thousands of American cars are driven in Canada every day. There's usually a sign at the border to remind travellers that highways speeds are in Metric. I wonder if Ireland will post similar signs at the cross points from Northern Ireland into the Republic. Stephen Gallagher > Signage Change 'Confusion' For Derry Drivers > > > Friday 17th December 2004 > > Derry motorists face confusion when they cross the > border from next > month as speed limits and signs begin the switch to > the metric system. > > Four out of five Northern Ireland motorists are not > aware that speed > limits and speed signs are set to change from > miles-per-hour (MPH) to > kilometres-per-hour (KPH) in the Republic of Ireland > next month. > > A survey by leading motor insurer AXA shows there > could be widespread > confusion when motorists cross the Border into the > Republic due to the > changes introduced by the Metrication Changeover > Board. > > Up to half of motorists in the North (48%) don't > know how to convert > miles-per-hour into kilometres-per-hour. > > And although 61% claim they have dual calibrated speedometers, 58% > admit the dominant MPH reading would confuse them when > trying to adapt to the > new KPH speed limits. > > Tim Scott, Operations Manager with AXA said: "UK > style MPH speedometers > will cause unintentional speeding problems for > Northern Ireland > motorists who travel into the Republic of Ireland as > they attempt to > convert mph into kph. > > "Some motorists may even contemplate using stickers > or clip-on > conversions that superimpose a kph reading over the > mph readout. > > "However, these give widely inaccurate readings and > lead to > unintentional speeding and we do not favour this > poor solution. A > speedometer is a precise instrument and factory > quality safeguards would > be required to ensure such stickers are applied > accurately. > > "Unfortunately it seems there will be no long-term > solution for > commuters. > > "Motorists should therefore make themselves fully > aware of the > differences between mph and kph and the different > speed limits before > setting off on their trip to the Republic of > Ireland." > > Penalty points The penalty for speeding offences in > the Republic is an > on-the-spot fine of 80 euro together with two > penalty points on your > driving licence. > > But Gardai in the Republic will first of all have to > change all of their > speed trap equipment to the metric system in order > to catch those > breaking speed laws. > > "We have to change over all of our equipment and > that's the main thing > for us," said a spokesman for Buncrana Gardai. > "We're told it will > become law on January 20 with all signage erected > five days previous to > that," he added. > > Another important change, which motorists have been > called upon to note, > is the planned reduction of the national speed limit > on minor roads from > the current 60 (97 kph) to around 50 mph (80 kph) > under the Road Traffic > Act 2004. "There will be changing speed limits on > all minor roads and > motorists should ensure they fully aware of them," > added the Garda > spokesman. > > The extension of certain speed limit zones will also > take place. > > Every household in the State will receive an > information leaflet from > the Department of Transport explaining all the > changes. > >
