Drivers heading into a metric muddle

THE decision of former Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan, and the present incumbent, Martin Cullen, to introduce km/h instead of mph on our roads will be seen by most drivers as unnecessary and confusing.

Most people simply do not relate to kilometres or km/h, except in a scientific context. Ask anyone about road distances or speed limits and they will invariably answer in the imperial system, miles or mph.

The rule of thumb when converting travel distances is to divide by eight and multiply by five, which we are used to and is easily done.

However, what happens when we are approaching these new speed limits while doing our calculations? Confusion will prevail and, no doubt, it will contribute to even more accidents at road junctions.

Mr Cullen would be better employed now investing resources in the resurfacing of our secondary roads rather than this unnecessary piece of European bureaucracy.

Séan Ó Dálaigh

Oliver Plunkett Street

Bandon

Co Cork