[USMA:37193] RE: metric road signs

[Martin Vlietstra]

"The phrase 'isn't accurate' is a load of baloney".  The signposting is as accurate as you want it.  I have just returned from the Netherlands where the motorways have legible road markers every 100 m.  The markers themselves are the size of two number plates and have lettering the size of numberplate lettering.  In terms of repeatability, they are excellent.   One should realise of course that road markers are there primarily to enable people to locate where they are and can be in any units, name or whatever - it is just that giving a distance is simplest.  There is one problem if the markers are used for absolute distance measurements - if a road is rerouted, then all the markers have to be changed.  There are many ways around the problem - one is to give the carriageways letters - "A" is the carriageway in the direction of the numbering, "B" is in the opposite direction.  If the carriageway is rerouted, then the new carriageways are given the letters "C" and "D".  The result might be that the distances are duplicated, but the letters will identify exactly which lane you are referring to.  The "A" and "B" concept is used in the UK, but I don't know about the "C" and "D" concept.  ----- Original Message ----- From: Mike Millet To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 8:16 PM Subject: [USMA:37148] RE: metric road signs ... snip    I was recently speaking to a member of Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation and we got on the subject of California switching from SI equipment to non SI as soon as the requirement to build roads in metric was rescinded. He mentioned with some pride that it was  "good to see one state switching back to normal and coherent USC units" instead of an "European system that isn't accurate or at all useful".