Tag Archives: DfT

FAQs about the transition to metric signs on UK roads

Readers have commented recently on the obstacles to the transition to metric-only signs on Britain’s roads. This has prompted Metric Views to offer answers to some Frequently Asked Questions on this subject.

Posted in History, Law, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

DfT rejects industry view on metric signs

The Department for Transport (DfT) has given in to anti-metric lobbying and backtracked on its earlier proposal that imperial-only height and width restriction signs should be replaced with dual metric/imperial signs within four years.  This climbdown is despite the responses … Continue reading

Posted in General, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Who should pay for metrication of road signs?

The Department for Transport have claimed that converting road signs to show metric units would be an unjustifiable diversion of resources from other priority areas.  So is there an argument that the costs should be met from some other budget?  … Continue reading

Posted in General, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Review fails to address major traffic sign issues

A three-year review of traffic signs has failed to address major problems with the UK’s signs.

Posted in Law, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Spain discredits DfT’s case against metric signs

The Spanish government this week exposed the Department for Transport’s case against adopting metric road signs in the UK as flawed. While the DfT maintains that it must allow an average of around £1400 to change our road signs, Spain this week changed all its motorway speed limit signs for an average cost of just €41, or £35.
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Posted in General, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Southwark goes back to the 1980s

The London Borough of Southwark appears to relish its role as the setting for the BBC’s 1980s retro series Ashes to Ashes, which was filmed on location in the borough. Just a few hundred metres from filming locations, which were … Continue reading

Posted in Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

‘Rebalancing of the UK economy’ postponed?

Metric Views has learned that the coalition government may drop the proposed amendments to road traffic sign regulations, which would have required dual signage of height and width restrictions within four years and which would have achieved savings and improvements in … Continue reading

Posted in Education, General, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

DfT prefers imperial units to pedestrian safety

Signs indicating the emergency escape routes in tunnels are of critical importance to the safety of tunnel users, given the particular hazards of fire and smoke within tunnel environments. Sadly, the government’s irrational position on units of measure even extends … Continue reading

Posted in Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , | 25 Comments

DfT imperialists waste more taxpayers’ money

The Department for Transport, who once described metrication of road signs as “a waste of taxpayers’ money”, have themselves been condemned by a House of Commons Select Committee for wasting £71 million on building 66 motorcycle testing stations in order … Continue reading

Posted in General, Road signs, Transport | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments