Confusing measures
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• Calls for height and width restriction warning signs on UK roads to be metricated are being made this week after a French truck driver wedged his vehicle under a low railway bridge.
The incident, in South Norwood, London, caused £800,000 of damage and disrupted British Rail services. Driver Denis Brulin, on his first trip to Britain, claimed he was confused by the 12ft 9in warning. Rob Swindells, sales director at Taunton-based haulier Langdons, a campaigner for metrification, says keeping signs in feet and inches is a safety risk. "We should at least have dual markings if we are serious about being part of Europe," he adds.
The Department of Transport says it is currently converting all width and height signs on trunk roads to show metric and Imperial measures. But many local authority roads are not included.