[USMA:32160] RE: Irish road metrication

[Stephen Humphreys]

Title: Message

Wishful thinking I'm afraid   First, Scotland is part of the UK.   The UK has no plans (not 'pencil marked for the future', but NO plans) for UK road metrication.   Secondly 1/3 and 2/3 mile markers have been common place for ages. They are there because the half mile marker would either be obscured or there is a service station within a mile of the half distance between junctions.   Of course, this could all be a conspiracy  ;-) -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brenton Sent: 02 February 2005 04:16 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:32155] Irish road metrication Is Scotland next?     Quote from: http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=75962005 It will not stop there. I’ve now read of Ireland’s latest change in cultural behaviour - the metrification of its road speed signs. Roads signs that once said 60mph convert to the unhelpful 97 kilometres per hour - but rather than round it up to 100kph they are being rounded down to 80kph - which is 50mph. Other signs become faster and confusion abounds.   How long before a Scottish MSP says we should do the same?   There are officials in the Department of Transport who want us to make the switch to kilometres and some signs already give the game away. When you see road signs using distances of one or two thirds of a mile, it’s because they correspond to metric distances and therefore wouldn’t need to be moved if the sign is metrificated. When it’s proposed, remember, you read it here first.