[USMA:31737] Re: Derry Journal

[carletonm]

Sounds like more "Imperial" - ist whining.

 

Northern Ireland can solve the  problem by changing over, themselves.

 

Carleton

 

 

-------------- Original message --------------

> 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
> >! speedom eters, 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! equipme nt 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
&! gt; > information leaflet from
> > the Department of Transport explaining all the
> > changes.
> >
> >
>