Archive for the ‘Road signs’ Category

Traffic Signs Review produces INACTION plan

Friday, June 26th, 2009

The Transport Department’s current review of traffic signs has so far avoided any mention of the “m” word and is likely to be a failure.  UKMA has therefore produced its own proposals.

(more…)

Metric campaigners unimpressed by poll findings

Friday, August 1st, 2008

The UK Metric Association dismissed as “unrepresentative and old hat” the findings of an AA/Populus panel, showing that a large majority of AA members are opposed to metric road signs in the UK. (This press release was issued for use after 00:01 on Saturday, 2 August 2008).

(more…)

Is this the UK’s oldest kilometre sign?

Monday, July 28th, 2008

A sign showing kilometres on the route of the first ’London’ marathon had its anniversary this week. For a century, it has pointed the way for anyone trying to retrace the steps of the original runners towards the finishing line at White City in London, where the 1908 Olympic Games were held.

(more…)

All distances on London pedestrian signs to be shown in “minutes”

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

According to Legible London, an initiative led by Transport for London, all existing pedestrian direction signs in London will be replaced by 2015 with new wayfinding signs. The enamelled monolith-style signs will have maps as well as directions and distances in “minutes”.

(more…)

Cyprus measures up, and delivers a surprise

Monday, June 30th, 2008

A visit to the Republic of Cyprus earlier this year delivered sun, sea and snow, as expected, but also came up with a surprise. (Article contributed by Derek Pollard)

(more…)

Police and Network Rail call for metric signs

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

An incident on 17 June, in which a foreign lorry struck a low bridge near Cannock, the third such incident since April, has prompted the police and Network Rail to call for metric signs to be shown on all bridges in the area.

(more…)

UK pays the cost of failure to implement the Vienna Convention

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

The Department for Transport (DfT) continues to ignore the clear advantages of the adoption of the international norms for road signage, namely the use of metric units, while potentially preventable accidents occur on our roads.

(more…)

Metres and yards – now interchangeable?

Thursday, January 31st, 2008

A reader of Metric Views has drawn our attention to a paragraph in the DfT Traffic Signs Manual that allows distances shown as ‘yards’ on some traffic signs to be measured in metres. We wonder if this idea on interchangeability has spread beyond the DfT.

(more…)

UK speed limits go metric on 1 January

Friday, December 28th, 2007

UKMA issued the following news release at 18:05 on 28 December:

(more…)

How others see us – an Australian view

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

UKMA occasionally receives letters from visitors to the UK expressing amazement at our dysfunctional muddle of measurement units. The following is typical (with thanks to JP for allowing us to use it):

(more…)