[USMA:33491] RE: July 4

[Daniel]

Han,   Ireland switched to kilometres long before 20 Jan 2005.  It was the speed limits (MPH to km/h) they changed on this date,  Thus the adjustment to kilometre distances should have been a long time ago.  But I guess the change of the speed signs is what made it all seem real now instead of previous.   As for the head room signs, I offered a suggestion on the BWMA forum that would work perfect for the situation of head room.  A sticker showing the vehicles height in metres could be affixed to the inside of the windshield by the driver.  Thus when he approaches a bridge that has a sign showing 2 m, and his sticker says the vehicle is 2.2 m high, then he doesn't go under the bridge.  If he does, then he is fully responsible for all damages.  No amount of excuses can be used to absolve the driver of fault.   This way the driver doesn't have to understand the units. All he needs do is make sure the number on the bridge sign is greater then the number on his sticker to allow him to pass under.  If that simple little comparison is too complex for him to make, then he should not be issued a license  to drive.  That simple.   Such a simple step as requiring vehicles over a chosen height (say 1.75 m) to have such a sticker placed on the windshield edge where the driver can plainly see it would end once and for all the silliness of not understanding the units and end the need for dual declarations.    Dan     ----- Original Message ----- From: H. Maenen To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, 2005-07-09 05:55 Subject: [USMA:33489] RE: July 4 Stephen, To start: I give you my sincere condolences about the cowardly terrorist attacks in London. The Republic of Ireland has been more metric for years than Britain. In Ireland I always use the units that a person uses who speaks to me. As Fahrenheit has virtually gone in Ireland, I use Celsius there. When I went to Ireland for the first time in 1971 (!) the pilot announced that it was 17 degrees Celsius in Dublin. Two years ago the plane arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport from Dublin on a remote runway, 7 km from the terminal. The pilot said that the final ride would be rather long; he said that we had landed 7 km from the terminal. As Ireland has changed to kilometres on January 20 last. So there is no need at all to use miles in a news item about the Tour de France by an Irish newspaper. I spoke to one person who said she was still using miles, but she will adjust. She was not opposed to metric, she had only to make the last step. The Irish people will adjust to the kilometre as they adjusted to the Euro. I do hear people here using kilometres. Only head room signs remain dual; I think that is to avoid litigation by drivers who ram their 6'7'' vehicle under a 2 m high bridge, get stuck, and then claim they do not understand what ' head room 2 m' means. Han ======================================== Message date : 06-07-2005 09:58 From : "Stephen Humphreys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To : "U.S. Metric Association" Copy to : Subject : [USMA:33453] RE: July 4 > >What units do you use in Ireland, since Ireland is pretty much metric now? >Did you see the new signs?  Did you talk to anybody about them and their >impressions? > The tour de France is in - erm - "France" (not Ireland) Yes, and France is metric. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.11/44 - Release Date: 2005-07-08