More like a dumbing down of 300 km/h.
Carleton _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Martin Vlietstra Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 06:02 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39966] Re: UK speed limits go metric on 1 January It has been reported recently that mathematical ability in both the UK and US (the only two industrialized countries that have not converted to the metric system) has sunk to very low levels. For Steves benefit, 94 mph is 151.2 km/h which suggests that it is the first whole number above 150 km/h (150 km/h = 93.2 mph). BTW. With the opening of the new Eurostar service from London St Pancras, Britain has been flooded with adverts regarding this 186 mph rail service between London and Paris. This is of course a translation of 300 km/h. _____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stephen Humphreys Sent: 31 December 2007 10:45 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:39964] Re: UK speed limits go metric on 1 January Hmm - a bit "tabloid". All heavy vehicles (buses, lorries, etc) have laws governing how fast they can go. They've (since I have known) always been metric and then translated to mph (hence vehicles with "Vehicle limited to 56 mph" on the back). This sounds like an adjustment to that. Speed limits in the UK are not being changed to metric. When I saw the subject line I thought it might have been to do with the "motorways tolerance" being lowered some years back. The old rule was over 100 on the motorway - you get a ban. This was reduced to 94 mph but wasn't publicised - leaving some people without a license. You might be able to equate 94 mph with a km/h figure (haven't checked) but in fact it was just to stop 100mph speedsters. BTW - This "news item" has not appeared on the TV or radio news here as of yet. I'll keep my ears and eyes open though (but obv won't be holding my breath!! ;-) ). _____ Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:50:12 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [email protected]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [USMA:39959] Re: UK speed limits go metric on 1 January Well, not quite, Daniel. In fact, worse! How can they add more muddle? It is not even a fraction of the full highway metrication that took place in Ireland three years ago. This just has to do with so-called "speed limiter" devices. Daniel Jackson wrote: Pass the news on! http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/28/uk-speed-limits-go-metric/#comments <http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/28/uk-speed-limits-go-metric/> UK speed limits go metric on 1 January UKMA issued the following news release at 18:05 on 28 December: news release newsrelease news release news release news release For immediate release UK speed limits go metric on 1 January LONDON, 28 December 2007, >From 2008, the practical speed limits for goods vehicles and buses on UK motorways will become 90 km/h and 100 km/h respectively. This equates to approximately 56 mph and 62 mph. This is because of new speed limiter regulations which commence in January. >From 1 January 2008, all goods vehicles and buses, registered since 2005, and many older vehicles, will be required to be fitted with speed limiters, in addition to those that have been required to do so for some years, such as goods vehicles that travel internationally. This means that the official motorway speed limits of 60 mph and 70 mph for these vehicles, as shown in the Highway Code, will effectively be superseded; though some older goods vehicles will remain unaffected by the change. According to a <http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/Speed%20Limiters%20-%20New%20Reg ulations.pdf> leaflet issued by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) It is likely, once all the changes to vehicles requiring road speed limiters have taken place (after 1 January 2008), the national motorway speed limit for goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and buses will be lowered. Restricting all vehicles in these classes to the same speed limit will reduce any competitive advantage of older vehicles (which are not required to have speed limiters). Although many foreign goods vehicles display a plate on the rear of the vehicle giving their speed limit in kilometres per hour, these plates will be optional for UK vehicles. VOSA recommends that where they are used they should be in miles per hour thus conflicting with foreign vehicles. Robin Paice, Chairman of the UK Metric Association, which campaigns for a complete changeover to the metric system, said: This muddle demonstrates yet again that the insistence of the Department for Transport (DfT) on clinging to out-dated imperial units for road signs and speed limits is becoming increasingly untenable in todays modern world. Background The UK is one of only two major countries that have yet to make the switchover to metric units for road signs (the other being the USA). The Republic of Ireland was the most recent country to do so in 2005. The DfT is resisting the change, citing incredibly high cost estimates, even though Ireland has shown that the change can be made economically. For further information on why switching to metric road signs and speed limits is in the UKs best interest, read UKMAs publication Metric Signs Ahead, Paice, ISBN : 978-0-9552351-0-8. References <http://www.ukma.org.uk/Transport/index.htm> http://www.ukma.org.uk/Transport/index.htm <http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/Speed%20Limiters%20-%20New%20Reg ulations.pdf> http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/Speed%20Limiters%20-%20New%20Regu lations.pdf <http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304> http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070304 Notes for editors (a)The UK Metric Association (UKMA) is an independent, non-party political, single issue organisation which advocates the full adoption of the international metric system (Système International - SI) for all official, trade, legal, contractual and other purposes in the United Kingdom as soon as practicable. UKMA is financed entirely by membership subscriptions and personal donations. (b)Further extensive background information can be found generally on UKMAs website at www.ukma.org.uk <http://www.metricviews.org.uk/www.ukma.org.uk> (c)A free downloadable electronic version of Metric signs ahead is available to bona fide journalists. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] (d)The Chairman of UKMA is available for interviews in Portsmouth or by telephone. (e)Please note that the correct symbol for kilometres per hour is km/h (as on vehicle instrument panels) - not the little understood kph. _____ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage. <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http:/www.yahoo.com/r/hs> -- Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Acting Secretary The Pharmacy Alliance Midland TX 79707-2872 USA +1(432)528-7724 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ThePharmacyAlliance _____ Sounds like? How many syllables? Guess and win prizes with <http://www.searchcharades.com> Search Charades!
