UK road signs to go metric

METRIC signs are to be placed on Britain’s roads at a cost of at least £3million to end the chaos caused by foreign drivers.

The change will stop confusion for foreign drivers The change will stop confusion for foreign drivers

Department for Transport officials plan to replace every sign on bridges, tunnels and contraflows so they show width and height in metres.

The changes are expected to take four years. But supporters of the traditional imperial system said they were concerned it would mean that feet, inches and miles were eventually outlawed.

Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers said: “This must not be used as backdoor metrification. Imperial measurements have served this country well for hundreds of years.”

UK Independence Party MEP Derek Clark said: “I’m not against a metric equivalent alongside in smaller characters. But it’s the thin end of the wedge.”

Brian Gregory, from the Association of British Drivers, admitted drivers could be confused by having two sets of measures but said the move was “inevitable” in “an open European market”.

The plans are aimed at halting the damage done by foreign drivers confused by signs in feet and inches.

Figures from the DfT show that 12 per cent of crashes and accidents at bridges are caused by foreign drivers, usually when huge lorries try to squeeze through narrow gaps.

The DfT insisted last night there were no plans to use kilometres, rather than miles, on distance signs.

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