Yesterday, the UK Weighing Federation (UKWF) issued a briefing on the regulation of the UK weighing industry and the Retained EU Law Bill. This briefing emphasised the key role of weights and measures in all areas of industry and consumers’ everyday lives and also explained the serious consequences of lowering or complete removal of current regulatory standards.
Continue reading “UKWF issues warning about risks of REUL Bill”Category: Transport
ULEZ is all metric unlike UK road signs
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has expressed his commitment to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) this year to make London’s air cleaner and improve public health. Transport for London (TfL) is planning to expand ULEZ across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023. As ULEZ expansion has been in the news recently, we take a look at the measurements that ULEZ is based on. Whatever happens to ULEZ, measurements play a central part in making it work. Unlike UK road signs, the measurements used in ULEZ are all metric.
Continue reading “ULEZ is all metric unlike UK road signs”DfT holds back TfL from all-metric usage
Transport for London (TfL) uses metres and kilometres to express distances in its press releases with few exceptions and often uses metres elsewhere in public places. However, speeds are expressed in miles per hour, no doubt due to Department for Transport (DfT) regulations and usage. Tariffs for taxi fares are expressed in metres for short journeys and in miles for longer journeys and reflect current regulations. I praise TfL for using metric units wherever they can. It is a pity that DfT regulations and usage are holding back TfL from going fully metric.
Continue reading “DfT holds back TfL from all-metric usage”Miles beyond transport
Here we will look at some visible displays of miles that are totally unrelated to road transport, the one major area of British life where miles are used across the UK. The images shown in this article demonstrate the enormous influence of British mile-based road signs for speed and distance on British society.
Continue reading “Miles beyond transport”No DfT research on familiarity of road sign units
A Freedom of Information response from the Department for Transport reveals that it has done no research on the general public’s familiarity of road sign units. The DfT once used the lack of metric education as an argument against the metrication of road signs but has never seen the lack of familiarity with imperial units as a problem with its current use of imperial road signs.
Continue reading “No DfT research on familiarity of road sign units”Elizabeth Line in figures
Metric Views marks the opening to the general public of London’s Elizabeth line, formerly known as Crossrail, with a few statistics.
Continue reading “Elizabeth Line in figures”How to improve Highway Code 2022
The Highway Code was updated on 29 January 2022. It introduced a hierarchy of road users based on vulnerability and aimed to give priority to the most vulnerable road users. Ronnie Cohen comments.
Continue reading “How to improve Highway Code 2022”Inconsistent motorway emergency features
Smart motorways illustrate the some of the consequences of the UK’s two-system measurement muddle. Ronnie Cohen explains.
Continue reading “Inconsistent motorway emergency features”Highway Code conversion confusion
Ronnie Cohen looks at consequences of the UK’s measurement muddle for The Highway Code.
Continue reading “Highway Code conversion confusion”Metres and miles mix-up again
I recently came across a news article on the mylondon.news website reporting that one short London Underground journey is the most expensive in the world.
Continue reading “Metres and miles mix-up again”
Metric Views 