Why are motorway location signs/markers in metric units?
Discussion
A random thought that was on my mind on this windy Monday.
On motorways and major A roads, these markers and location signs are used to allow emergency services to find the location of a driver (if they've called using a mobile phone for example).
These signs are installed at 0.5km intervals, and distances are shown in kilometres to one decimal place. The marker posts are installed at 0.1km intervals, and again distances are in kilometres.
I'm thinking this may be something to do with road planning, as distances for this is also done in metric measurements. But why do they use metric on these sign posts, and stick to using imperial measurements on road signs? Surely it would make more sense to keep the units in an imperial measurement.
There is the argument that metric measurements are easier to visualise than imperial, which leads to the question of why aren't all signs metric instead?
On motorways and major A roads, these markers and location signs are used to allow emergency services to find the location of a driver (if they've called using a mobile phone for example).
These signs are installed at 0.5km intervals, and distances are shown in kilometres to one decimal place. The marker posts are installed at 0.1km intervals, and again distances are in kilometres.
I'm thinking this may be something to do with road planning, as distances for this is also done in metric measurements. But why do they use metric on these sign posts, and stick to using imperial measurements on road signs? Surely it would make more sense to keep the units in an imperial measurement.
There is the argument that metric measurements are easier to visualise than imperial, which leads to the question of why aren't all signs metric instead?
Roger Irrelevant said:
Just too much hassle to change it all now I suppose, plus as soon as somebody suggests it you'd have all the GB News viewers losing their minds and vowing to cut down the metric signage. For all intents and purposes the distance markers you're talking about are completely separate from the imperial signs that drivers use so they may as well use the more sensible metric system.
Possibly the cost of updating signs yes. But I'm sure the vast majority these days would be happy to see metric signs. If it were up to the GB News viewers, we'd be still using shillings and crowns.kambites said:
I think that's increasingly not true of younger people. My daughter seems happier using km than miles for distance measurement (although of course that might change when she's old enough to drive). I'm about equally happy with both units but that may be because I've spent quite a lot of time driving in countries which use km.
For me, I much prefer to use km. My sat nav is set to metric even when in the UK.I know that 1000m is 1km. 1 mile is 1760 yards, far harder to remember and visualise.
911hope said:
What supplier is going to create new packaging for wine, for only one market (UK), to appeal to a few idiots who think this important?
You will only be able to buy hypothetical pints of wine.
It's pointless. Besides, I'd rather buy 750ml of wine. You are getting more wine than in a pint.You will only be able to buy hypothetical pints of wine.
Dogwatch said:
Some are metricated imperial. On the M23 for instance you will see signs “Services 2/3 Mile” and others of the same ilk. By a curious not-so-coincidence 2/3 of a mile is not that different to 1 Kilometre. Hmmm.
The 3, 2, 1 markers you see on approach to a slip road are metricated too I believe. 3 is 300m. 2 is 200m. 1 is 100m.Earthdweller said:
The boring answer is that the motorways are part of the United Nations International E road network dating back to the 1940’s although in the U.K. the motorways don’t display the E number only the national road number .. ie M1, M6 etc
As these roads are strategic international routes the distances are marked in KM not miles
Actually I never thought of this. Is it an international treaty that dictates the markers must be in metric measurements?As these roads are strategic international routes the distances are marked in KM not miles
speedking31 said:
hey are not set to specific distances, but indicate 3/3, 2/3, 1/3 of the distance to the slip road / sharp bend / speed limit reduction etc.
I was always under the assumption that they do use set distances for road planning purposes. Roads are generally built to metric specifications, and distances in Traffic Signs Manual for instance are all in metres.smn159 said:
Yep, standard sizes are to allow consumer to compare prices more easily. What would be utterly ridiculous would be to allow a free for all whereby you'd end up with companies making smaller and smaller bottles to maintain a price point
Do they not tend to have the price per litre anyway on the price label?Dingu said:
Honestly, nobody cares that the signs are in Miles. I can certainly think of many many many better things to do with the money than pointlessly change all the road signs.
Personally I would much prefer to see km as it's easier to visualise. Particularly for the younger generations who are taught nothing but metric measurements at school.Watcher of the skies said:
Easier for you to visualise you mean.
Personally I have to convert lengths and distances into imperial in order to visualise them. If someone says they are 6ft tall I know exactly how tall they are - if they say they are 178cm it means little to me.
Although children are taught in metric my children were also taught about imperial measurements so that they can at least understand them when they come across them.
These days there is no coverage of imperial units at school. The curriculum teaches only metric.Personally I have to convert lengths and distances into imperial in order to visualise them. If someone says they are 6ft tall I know exactly how tall they are - if they say they are 178cm it means little to me.
Although children are taught in metric my children were also taught about imperial measurements so that they can at least understand them when they come across them.
smn159 said:
Some Imperial measurements aren't even British. A mile, for example, is a distance that a Roman travelled when taking 1,000 paces
Bloody Romans, lets bring back good old British measurements like the Furlong (how far an Ox could plough before it was too tired) - Romanes eunt domus!
How long is a pace exactly? Never even heard of that as a measure of distance.Bloody Romans, lets bring back good old British measurements like the Furlong (how far an Ox could plough before it was too tired) - Romanes eunt domus!
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