Ah, so then it really is correct to say that the UK is the only country in the world that has actually outlawed metric distance and speed limit signs on public roads and motorways?
-- Ezra ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Trusten" <[email protected]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 10:13:50 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [USMA:47690] RE: Are metric speed limit and/or distance signs permitted by US Federal law or regulation? Metric is legal(1866), and metric is the federally preferred standard (1988), but, for motor vehicle matters, we would still need one little thing to make it a reality---metrication. We would have to metricate signs, auto equipment, and also human minds, to make it work. The truth is that it is confusing to put up kilometer distance signs for people who are untrained in thinking metric, and may be downright hazardous to erect metric speed limit signs which would fool some people into thinking they can go 160 km/h when they see speed limit 100 and think that is miles per hour. It would be called a "very American mess" (tip of the hat to the UKMA report). Ireland metricated its speed limit signs in 2005 via a carefully coordinated national plan. Before '05, Ireland had metric distance signs but imperial speed limit signs. See story in attached copy of Metric Today. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: U.S. Metric Association Cc: U.S. Metric Association Sent: 10 June, 2010 23:31 Subject: [USMA:47689] RE: Are metric speed limit and/or distance signs permitted by US Federal law or regulation? They are legal...but states have chosen not to use them...except in certain circumstances. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [USMA:47688] Are metric speed limit and/or distance signs permitted by US Federal law or regulation? From: [email protected] Date: Thu, June 10, 2010 9:18 pm To: "U.S. Metric Association" < [email protected] > All: I just realized I am not clear about the legal status of metric distance and speed limit signs in the USA. Do Federal laws and regulations permit them in all circumstances? Only some? What role do state, county, and local laws and regulations play in all this? I ask because I'm wondering if turns out to be the case that the UK is the only country on the planet that has officially outlawed metric distance and road signs on officially maintained roadways. Even though such signs are virtually non-existent here in the USA, I'm presuming this is so simply because the states have chosen not to use them rather than because they have been made illegal either at the Federal or the state level. Thanks, Ezra
