The following is the text of my letter to the Highways Agency dated 2 June, 2001.
"While driving south on the A34 yesterday I noticed several road signs between junction 9 of the M40 and Oxford which referred to the size of vehicles greater than 3.5 metres rather than the imperial equivalent. The signs were rectangular in shape and had black characters on a yellow background.
The Traffic Signs Regulations 1994 allow metric, width and length restriction signs to be provided in addition to (though not instead of) imperial unit signs. I did not see any signs in the vicinity expressing the permitted vehicle dimensions in feet and inches and therefore assume that these signs are illegal.
I trust action will be taken to correct this situation as soon as possible and I would be grateful if you could confirm that this will happen.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours etc"
Their response dated 21 June, 2001 is as follows.
"Dear Mr Heath
Thank you for you letter dated 2 June, ....
... You are quite right in saying that the road signs showing metric units are not permitted unless they are supplementing imperial signs. Our contractors have been reminded of this and have now replaced the offending signs.
I am grateful to you for bringing this matter to our attention.
Yours sincerely
Miss M J Killin
Route Manager"
Its nice to know that even the Highways Agency find these signs offensive.
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