I recently had an exchange of correspondence with an acquaintance (a former RAF pilot) who tried to explain to me why most of the world of aviation still uses nautical miles and knots rather than kilometres and km/h. The explanation went like this.
Archive for the ‘Transport’ Category
Why do nautical miles linger on?
Friday, January 1st, 2010Electric cars – an opportunity for SI, or a threat?
Friday, December 4th, 2009The arrival of electric cars on our streets will draw attention to measures for comparing performance.
Signs review disregards Welsh road users
Sunday, November 1st, 2009The Department for Transport (DfT) is failing to address the needs of Welsh road users, and international traffic, when considering road sign designs in its Traffic Signs Policy Review.
End of imperial-only restriction signs
Saturday, October 10th, 2009The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced its intention to finally end the use of imperial-only width and height restriction signs on Britain’s roads.
Chaos comes to National Cycle Network signs
Friday, October 9th, 2009In an apparent admission that cycle route signs showing distances in miles are not meaningful to cyclists, the Department for Transport is proposing to allow authorities the option of using signs that show journey times in hrs and mins instead of distances in miles and fractions of miles.
Traffic Signs Review produces INACTION plan
Friday, June 26th, 2009The 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.
End Britain’s Great Imperial Rip-Off
Saturday, November 1st, 2008In these uncertain times, the spending power of the pound in our pockets seems to be decreasing by the day, making it high time, in my view, to end the Great Imperial Rip-Off, and save British consumers from the cost of maintaining imperial weights and measures. (Article contributed by Tony)
Metric campaigners unimpressed by poll findings
Friday, August 1st, 2008The 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).
All distances on London pedestrian signs to be shown in “minutes”
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008According 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”.
Vehicle fuel efficiency – units matter
Friday, June 27th, 2008An article published on the Guardian web site on 20 June describes US research on the public perception of vehicle fuel efficiency in relation to the units used.