Stephen, What does the size of the network have to do with it?
I'm comparing drivers to drivers and the number of them is immaterial, unless you have more dunderheads in the UK who would have a hard time adjusting to anything different. I don't think this is correct, but you sure are trying to give me that impression. Jerry ________________________________ From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2009 1:36:55 PM Subject: [USMA:42789] Re: REALLY using the SI You are not comparing like-for-like. The UK road network is massive (for such a small Island nation!). ________________________________ Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:49:21 -0800 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: [USMA:42751] Re: REALLY using the SI To: [email protected]; [email protected] Stephen, One of the emails I received said that each of the countries that did change that there were predictions of carnage on the roads, yet when the signs changed there was no carnage and the predictions were in error. It is utter nonsense that road accidents would increase because a distance sign went from 50 miles to 80 km. If UK roads are the safest in the world then it has to be for other reasons, such defensive verses offensive driving techniques, drunk drivers, conditions of roads, weather, etc. Foreign drivers on the roads who don't understand the signs and cause an accident does compromise the road safety and is a good reason to change. So how would a change of the numbers on the road signs change the safety record of UK roads? Jerry ________________________________ From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2009 11:06:52 AM Subject: [USMA:42751] Re: REALLY using the SI The UK roads are the safest in Europe (in fact I think they are the safest in the world). I would hazzard a guess that changing all the signs to metric to accomodate a few foreign lorry drivers on the M25 would not be a compelling argument in this case. ________________________________ Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:16:22 -0800 From: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42711] Re: REALLY using the SI To: [email protected] Martin, Are you telling us that foreign drivers on UK roads get confused by the non-metric signage? So what happens when they have an accident and someone is seriously hurt? This would be a good reason to change if only to conform with the practice of your neighboring countries. Now what happens when UK drivers go to other countries and don't have English unit signs to guide them? Does it cause accidents too? Is it true that Ireland just changed their signs 4 years ago? How are the people adapting? Any problems? Jerry ________________________________ From: Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]> To: Jeremiah MacGregor <[email protected]>; U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 12:07:51 PM Subject: RE: [USMA:42694] Re: REALLY using the SI Yes, most British people do, but I am not convinced that lorry drivers from abroad do. I often drive a short section (about 4 km) of the M25 (the London ring road) and almost without fail I spot at least one lorry from abroad every time that I drive on that section of road. ________________________________ From:Jeremiah MacGregor [mailto: [email protected] ] Sent: 31 January 2009 16:41 To: [email protected]; U.S. Metric Association Subject: Re: [USMA:42694] Re: REALLY using the SI Martin, Do most people know what they mean? Jerry ________________________________ From:Martin Vlietstra <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2009 10:28:26 AM Subject: [USMA:42694] Re: REALLY using the SI Oops - my error But for some inexplicable reason the British Department for Transport use single and double apostrophes to represent feet and inches on road signs. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Pierre Abbat Sent: 31 January 2009 11:50 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:42685] Re: REALLY using the SI On Saturday 31 January 2009 03:56:26 Martin Vlietstra wrote: > The single apostrophe is the symbol for seconds of arc. No, the single prime means arc minutes. The double prime means arc seconds. Pierre ________________________________ Share your photos with Windows Live Photos - Free Try it Now! ________________________________ Windows Live Hotmail just got better. Find out more!
