Please see the email message immediately preceding mine (from Martin) to understand why I answered the way I did.
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 10:15:02 -0800 From: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42779] Re: REALLY using the SI To: [email protected] Stephen, I don't see what any of this has to do with changing over road signs and how a change in road signs would compromise safety on UK roads if it didn't happen elsewhere. Jerry From: Stephen Humphreys <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 1, 2009 12:04:19 PM Subject: [USMA:42762] Re: REALLY using the SI http://www.etsc.eu/documents/04.18%20-%20PIN%20Talk%20Ireland.pdf This seems to show Malta and Netherlands overtaking us - although its only the first document I searched. Apparently N. Ireland 'lets us down' in the UK. From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [USMA:42757] Re: REALLY using the SI Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 16:46:00 +0000 Steve, >From what I have read, road safety considerably in other European countries in >the last few years and now many other countries have safety figures that are >comparable (or better) than the UK’s. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Stephen Humphreys Sent: 01 February 2009 16:07 To: U.S. Metric Association 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! Share your photos with Windows Live Photos – Free Find out more! _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Messenger just got better .Video display pics, contact updates & more. http://www.download.live.com/messenger
