A letter has been sent by Steve H regarding a 200 metre sign between Tonbridge and Paddock Wood, Kent, along the B2161. Will update in due course.

The following reply has been received, dated 13/3/01:

As you are aware, the United Kingdom has indefinite derogation from the part
of the EC Directive on harmonisation of units of measurement which concerns
the metrication of length units for road traffic signs and related speed
measurement.

The Government has not at any stage committed itself to metrication of road
traffic signs at a particular date, but Ministers have up to now concluded
that it would not be appropriate to change over to metric signs until the
majority of drivers have been educated in the metric system. Meanwhile it
seems likely that children will continue to be taught imperial measures as
part of their general education, for cultural and not just practical
reasons.

We have no plans to replace directional signs and speed limit signs with
metric signs until the majority of drivers have been educated in the metric
system and it is considered that the benefits of changing signs will
outweigh the very substantial costs. Meanwhile, it is not lawful to use
directions signs which show distances in metres or kilometres rather than
miles and yards.

I will forward a copy of your email to Royal Tonbridge Wells Borough Council
and I suggest you take the matter up with them.

The above reply contains the following remark:

"Meanwhile it seems likely that children will continue to be taught imperial measures as part of their general education, for cultural and not just practical
reasons".

As far as BWMA is aware, this is the first time the government has referred to the teaching of UK units in anything other than a means of knowing how to convert to metric.

I got this response from Tunbridge Wells Council, it shows that there are definitely good councils out there!

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The DETR has forwarded your e-mail of 9th March to Tunbridge Wells Highway Unit for our attention.

Thank you for bringing the sign to our attention. Arrangements will be made for the sign to be amended. The sign was erected some years ago, in the days before this Council was given responsibility for traffic matters in the Paddock Wood area and had escaped notice until now.
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