They cannot as laws regarding roads cover the whole of the UK.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:31737] Re: Derry Journal Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 18:06:11 +0000
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 > > 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. > > > > >
