Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 1 May 2001. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to exchange imperial for metric measures for signs on public roads and for use in traffic laws.

Answer: Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to exchange imperial for metric measures for signs on public roads and for use in traffic laws. [159991] Mr. Hill: Weight limit signs in metric tonnes were included in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981, and signs using imperial tons ceased to be valid from 1 January 1990. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 specify that signs indicating restrictions on vehicle width, length and height may only show metric units in addition to, and not instead of, imperial units. We have no plans to change these Regulations to allow the use of metric distances on speed limit signs, distance plates placed with warning signs, or direction signs.

Secondary information