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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: r1 on 01 January 2013, 15:32:53

Title: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: r1 on 01 January 2013, 15:32:53
traveling up the m1 today and just wanted to know what the blue signs on the side of the moterway mean.they seam to be marked up in half mile gaps eg 170 then the next is 170.5 and they go up as you travel north
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: zirk on 01 January 2013, 15:42:55
Do you mean the Distance Post Markers?
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 01 January 2013, 15:57:14
Do you mean the Distance Post Markers?

This - they are big versions of what's already written on the small marker posts. The idea is if you break down, or pass some debris and call it in, you can go "I've just passed the sign saying M1 A 207.5, which would be M1 (duh) Alpha carriageway (northbound), 207.5 (distance from the start point, in km).

Jct1 onwards is the Alpha carriageway. Travelling towards Jct1 is the Bravo carriageway.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Varche on 01 January 2013, 16:46:22
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.

They are actually all over the roads not just the motorways in Britain. Like the grass verge signs under EVERY overhead power line saying how high up they are.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Mr Skrunts on 01 January 2013, 16:46:27
Used for motorway maintenance (also have other uses), they are distance markers to junctions so they know what equipment to bring fot say a 700 metre closure or 1.8 km closure etc.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: feeutfo on 01 January 2013, 20:16:25
Exciting journey by the sound of it. ::)
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 01 January 2013, 20:34:11
Exciting journey by the sound of it. ::)

If you can look at the speedo you're not even trying, let alone count the markers. ;)
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: r1 on 02 January 2013, 14:59:44
thanks for the infomation.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Rog on 02 January 2013, 15:06:53
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.


Interesting indeed. Isn't it time we went metric for everything now, I mean this is 2013 in the 21st century not 1900. We're almost being as backward as the Americans. Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ? Actually many of our measurements aren't even the same as in the USA, so what's the point ? Probably all just national sentiment and resistance to change, not practical reasons.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: STMO123 on 02 January 2013, 15:16:16
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.


Interesting indeed. Isn't it time we went metric for everything now, I mean this is 2013 in the 21st century not 1900. We're almost being as backward as the Americans. Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ? Actually many of our measurements aren't even the same as in the USA, so what's the point ? Probably all just national sentiment and resistance to change, not practical reasons.

Can't have a metric cricket pitch. 22 yds = 1 chain.......metricate that! ;D
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: STMO123 on 02 January 2013, 15:19:22
Anyway, you're the chairman of the anti decimalisation and binary protest something or other.....aren't you?
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: cleggy on 02 January 2013, 15:40:20
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.


Interesting indeed. Isn't it time we went metric for everything now, I mean this is 2013 in the 21st century not 1900. We're almost being as backward as the Americans. Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ? Actually many of our measurements aren't even the same as in the USA, so what's the point ? Probably all just national sentiment and resistance to change, not practical reasons.

That's it confuse us old buggers, and what is wrong with imperial measurement. Do you really go into a pub and ask for 1/2 a litre of beer ??? ???
Must mention it to UKIP :y :y
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Rog on 02 January 2013, 18:01:11
Oh dear ! There is the potential for a right 'ol logical rant here. However I'll resist the temptation and move on . .

Now, I think that we should drive on the right . . . .  ;D     :y
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: cleggy on 02 January 2013, 19:04:13
Oh dear ! There is the potential for a right 'ol logical rant here. However I'll resist the temptation and move on . .

Now, I think that we should drive on the right . . . .  ;D     :y

Phased in, trucks on week one, cars week two, buses week three, and the rest on week four ::) ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Varche on 02 January 2013, 19:57:58
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.


Interesting indeed. Isn't it time we went metric for everything now, I mean this is 2013 in the 21st century not 1900. We're almost being as backward as the Americans. Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ? Actually many of our measurements aren't even the same as in the USA, so what's the point ? Probably all just national sentiment and resistance to change, not practical reasons.

Apparently there are only three countries in the world that haven't adopted metrication. USA and two others. It is a bit tongue in cheek as we in Britain still refer to many things in old measurements. In Spain larger plumbing fittings are in Imperial. Tyres on virtually all cars are in Inches for rim but metric for width.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Rog on 03 January 2013, 09:27:34
I find it very interesting that someone took the decision to use Km instead of miles when they were installed.


Interesting indeed. Isn't it time we went metric for everything now, I mean this is 2013 in the 21st century not 1900. We're almost being as backward as the Americans. Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ? Actually many of our measurements aren't even the same as in the USA, so what's the point ? Probably all just national sentiment and resistance to change, not practical reasons.

Apparently there are only three countries in the world that haven't adopted metrication. USA and two others. It is a bit tongue in cheek as we in Britain still refer to many things in old measurements. In Spain larger plumbing fittings are in Imperial. Tyres on virtually all cars are in Inches for rim but metric for width.

In medicine there is a thing called a Guide Wire. Length is in cms (EG: 100cms) diameter is decimals of an inch (EG: .035") So an example specification would be 100 x .035

How nuts is that ?
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: scimmy_man on 04 January 2013, 19:21:05
the building trade went metric in 1971, but everyone still digs a 3 foot trench and timber is 2x4 etc,
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Varche on 04 January 2013, 19:39:17
the building trade went metric in 1971, but everyone still digs a 3 foot trench and timber is 2x4 etc,

What 2mm by 4 mm X 10 foot? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Chris_H on 05 January 2013, 23:03:35
Buy a drink for yourself and the missus and one's a pint, the other's 125, 175 or 250ml.

I love hybrids. ;)
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 05 January 2013, 23:47:08
Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ?

I can go a bit bonkers after a few pints!!  :)
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: Rog on 06 January 2013, 17:14:26
Just how bonkers are Miles and Yards, Gallons and Pints, Stones and Pounds etc ?

I can go a bit bonkers after a few pints!!  :)

Well after the usual Christmas/New Year excesses, I thought that I might have put on a few pou . . . . err kilograms  :P

So I weighed myself. Diet time !  :( aiming at losing at least 10Kg

Jokes aside, it won't be too long before Imperial measurements disappear, possibly naturally. My kids are well into their '20s and during their education everything was metric, so when all the die hard non-metric farts have died off that will be it.

Me ? I was brought up on Imperial completely, but my work and sheer practicallity turned me metric. I'm an old fart, but a metric one  ;D




Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: cleggy on 06 January 2013, 17:20:34
I will drink pints, buy in pound and ounces, calculate MPG, use feet and inches and measure liquid in fluid ounces etc until the day I die. :y :y

Using metric is like being a Lib/Dem european :( :( ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: cleggy on 09 January 2013, 08:50:59
Q.E.D

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2259314/Couple-forced-tear-5-000-balcony-Bishop-Rochester-complains-privacy.html
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 19 January 2013, 15:48:09

Jokes aside, it won't be too long before Imperial measurements disappear, possibly naturally. My kids are well into their '20s and during their education everything was metric, so when all the die hard non-metric farts have died off that will be it.


My education was in metric, but I still think in feet, inches, and stone. I'm lucky that I can convert roughly between them, having lived with Britain's Most Old Fashioned Parents.
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: OOMV6 on 19 January 2013, 17:59:08
Interestingly here, in that place residents of the UK call Europe, it's all metric ........... except, strangely, tyres and wheels and steel plumbing fitting. Plastic and copper are generally metric ......... except the copper fitting that have a thread on one end and copper pipe fitting on the other....... that's metric AND imperial ..... 10mm / 1/2" for example. Easy.

Why not change the side of the road you drive on? Sweden did. Although, bizarrely, their cars did not need to change as they were always LHD
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: kevinp58 on 19 January 2013, 19:01:35
The reason we are not driving on the right hand side of the road is because it would cost the government a bucket load of money but you can be sure that they will change it if the roads ever become privately owned as they won't have to pay for all the road signs and road markings not to mention alot of the junctions to be changed. :o Anyways why should we change there are still a whole lot of countries that drive on the left. The weights and measures didn't cost the government a penny as it was down to the business world to change it. ::) ::)
Title: Re: m1 signs what do they mean?
Post by: OOMV6 on 19 January 2013, 20:05:23
Interestingly here, in that place residents of the UK call Europe, it's all metric ........... except, strangely, tyres and wheels and steel plumbing fitting. Plastic and copper are generally metric ......... except the copper fitting that have a thread on one end and copper pipe fitting on the other....... that's metric AND imperial ..... 10mm / 1/2" for example. Easy.

Why not change the side of the road you drive on? Sweden did. Although, bizarrely, their cars did not need to change as they were always LHD

Question was a little tongue in cheek  ;) Didn't really expect an answer