A Scottish anti-metric campaigner has had a battle with Amec and the Scottish Executive over what he claimed were illegal metric road signs along the A74 at Auldgirth (and elsewhere in Scotland).
After getting a dusty answer from Amec, who erected the illegal signs: '...putting the signs in metric is a 'de minimis' and technical breach of the law only', ARM took the case to the Road Network Management and Maintenance Division of the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh and received this reply (extracts only):
"The use of metric distances on directional signs is not permitted by the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994, so any sign which incorporates metric distances is not a traffic sign within the meaning of Section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act (RTRA) 1984 and is not covered by the power to place traffic signs conferred by Section 65 of that Act.
The Department's view is that *signs which are intended to be used for the purposes described in Section 64 of the RTRA should comply with the statutory requirements for traffic signs*...I will shortly be arranging for the signs to be altered. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention"
- B Guthrie, Area Manager (18 June 2002)
This robust, helpful and carefully phrased letter is a real 'bonus' in our continuing campaign to preserve British units of measurement on our road and pedestrian signs and I'll be very happy to send a copy of the full letter to anyone interested. My e-mail address is above. It may be that Section 64 of the RTRA could be a great help to those of us concerned about the creeping-in of private road signs on the highway with metric distances on them e.g. Forestry Commission signs.
I think Section 64 might make these illegal as well, but perhaps someone else could look that up and quote it and interpret it for us...one for you, Forum Owner?
Tony Bennett
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