Why does the UK still insist on using miles and yards on road signs?

Question

The UK went metric in 1971 yet 35 years and 2 generations of drivers later we are still using miles and yards for distance and speed on our roads.
Isn't it about time we changed to metric and let the old archaic mile go? After all the number of drivers who have no idea what a mile actually is is increasing every year. How long do we have to hold on for the older driver??

Well that put the cat amongst the pigeons!!

As we buy our petrol in litres why do we continue with miles per gallon for fuel economy then. Shouldn't we use miles per litre??

I did think the Europhobes would be out in force answering this one. I was hoping someone would give me a reasoned answer not a heap of jingoistic ranting - oh well

Answer 1

Just for once we told the EC to go and pee up their kilts and play with the steam! We're British, and we're doing it OUR way!

Answer 2

Well the metric system is alot more accurate, and that's the reason it won't happen. Legends on maps overexaggerate when displaying certain things on readable maps. Also since mileage is not as accurate, you can't plan an accurate trip, meaning you'll make more trips to the gas station than you anticipated. That's the way it'll stay too, so long as the govt stands to profit off of peoples inaccuracies reading maps, or unsing a gps unit, the mile will still be used.

We want everything simplified, easy to read and understand, normally when something is too easy to do, there's a catch.

Answer 3

Distance is measured in terms of miles, or perhaps yards now and returned. velocity is often in miles in line with hour. Yards are many times used on highway slip roads (off ramps to our colonial cousins). 3 hundred yards from teh go out you would be conscious an oblong sign with 3 stripes indicating 3 hundred yards to the go out, yet another one, with 2 stripes at 2 hundred yards etc.

Answer 4

I drive on the continent and easily swap between the two units.
I generally prefer metric measurements (I am a trained engineer and prefer SI units) but I can more easily relate to distances in miles than in Km
I think miles are going to be used for a few years yet

Answer 5

Consider the cost of replacing all the road signs, speed limit signs and distance indicators on all roads in the UK, and then ask where the money to pay for this change would come from. The UK motorist is among the highest taxed already (the majority of which is not used to improved the lot of road users).
If we accept that changing the way distances are indicated on road signs would be beneficial to the majority of road users, we should then require that all manufacturers who sell their vehicles in the UK should change the speedometers of all cars - new and old - to read in KPH so that our speed indication would match the road signs. I almost forgot that the odometers that record the mileage (kilometrage?) of our vehicles also need to be recalibrated so that they read in kilometers.
Then, why not go the whole way and do the same as Sweden? That is, change from driving on the left to driving on the right?

Answer 6

Because on the continent they measure road distances as proportions of 1500m because a metric mile is a better measurement when travelling at speed than a kilometre which is actually too short so it is better to stick to the imperial measure of 1760 yds or 1mile. Also to change every sign and motorway and railway measurement post for no real good reason would be proportionately hideously expensive.

Answer 7

I think we might be going over to Klicks sooner rather than later.

Around our way, there are instances of signs installed two thirds and a third of a mile before a junction, instead of the usual 1 mile to go or half a mile.

Pretty damn close to a Kilometre and half a Km, I reckon.

Answer 8

There is no good reason to change the present miles & yards as all drivers can familers themselves with & therefore use miles, and yards. Yards are not much smaller than meters.
Most people don't understand distances anyway whether imperial or metric.This is not about older drivers, people just read the speedo.

Answer 9

It is so we can understand how far somewhere is from a certain point.

The Imperial System is far superior to that metric codswallop the europeans are trrying to inflict on us.

We invented the car!
We invented the roadsign!

Why should we have bloody europe stuffing their metric claptrap on us?

You matey, should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking about giving in to them.

I for one, do NOT want euronating on! Stuff brussels, stuff the metric system.

The only reason these younger drivers do not know about miles is because they are TOO DAMM STUPID!

Answer 10

Nothing to do with older drivers! Look what a mess they made of changing to metric in '71 - can you imagine the state of things if we get rid of miles! Everyone I know (young and old) knows what a mile is.

Answer 11

What! You'll be doing away with our pounds next.

Building materials went metric in the 1970s. My builder was an elderly Irishman called Mac. I teased him about having to get used to metric. He told me that he served his apprenticeship as a carpenter in Canada and had been working in metres since the 1930s.