A chara - While agreeing wholeheartedly with Denis Logan's call for better signposting on our roads (May 31st), I would argue that these signs be posted using the metric system. We have the ludicrous situation in Ireland at the moment of having two systems of measurement, one for distance, (kilometres) and the other for speed (miles per hour).
As a primary teacher I find myself at a loss to explain to the pupils in my class why we have this situation. All textbooks use the metric system. As far as I am aware we are required under EU law to have converted to full metrication some time ago.
When I was in school I remember learning to divide by 8 and multiply by 5 and vice versa when learning the metric system and now, 20 years later, I am still doing this. As all cars and motorcycles display both systems on their speedometer it would not cause any major difficulty. And it would bring some continuity to weights and measurements in this country where you buy a kilo of sugar, a lb. of meat, a litre of milk, a pint of beer and a gallon of paint to cover 10 square metres!
So rather than spend money on signs that are at odds with the other road signs, let us do as Denis Logan suggests, but in kilometres. - Is mise Colm O hAnluain,
Cairbre,
Co Chill Dara.