Truly rational and national metrication requires a coordination among all sectors of American society. In the case of speed limits, there would have to be a great deal of activity, especially from a safety standpoint, to make sure the public understands the change, and that they follow the correct scale on their speedometers. Ireland changed over to metric speed limits in 2005, but only with a comprehensive program of public education, coordinated signage changes, and the distribution of km/h overlays for speedos that needed them. But this was facilitated because Irish distance signs were already in kilometers. Here in the U.S., it would also involve the participation of every state, and the negative effects of the TEA-21 law, which removed the federal requirement for metric highway design, are still with us. We have states that are actively reverting to customary units. To attempt metrication with a new national speed limit would be swimming upstream.
Quoting Scott Hudnall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > I just saw an article on CNN today that an influential Senator wants to lower > US speed limits again to conserve fuel. If this passes we will need to change > a lot of highway signs. As long as we're changing the signs, why not just set > it at 90 km/h or 100 km/h? Does the USMA have any contact with Senator Warner > or within the Energy Department? Can the Energy Department influence > Transportation Department policy? > > The article is posted at > http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/03/warner.speed.limit.ap/index.html > > > -- > Scott Hudnall > > -- Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apartment 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA +1(432)528-7724 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
