As per my post on 1/20: "In the newest MUTCD the metric speed limit signs are a hybrid of the American and international styles of signs. The major difference is that instead of a red circle, the sign uses a black one. The original proposal was for a red circle but some uninformed people felt that drivers would misinterpret the red circle as a prohibition rather than a restriction. The compromise reached was the black circle."
Phil -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Gallagher Sent: Monday, January 24, 2005 8:37 PM To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:32067] RE: red circle speed limit > You can what was the proposed sign at: > http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/millennium/pr2/2br2.pdf > on page 2B-8. > > This would have made the US Metric speed limit sign > somewhat similar in appearance to the signs used on > most other countries. > > However, as I recall, the proposal to use a red > circle > was later changed to use a green circle instead. > The > rationale > was that the US population normally associate the > color > red with prohibition of an action, while green > indicates that > an action is permitted. I need to correct that. I should say that the metric design is for a black circle, although I believe that a green circle may have been proposed. Still, the red circle would have appeared much closer to the international standard. Stephen Gallagher
