Principles of changeover
In this page we set out some basic principles which we feel should underlie the
process of completing the metric changeover:
Think metric! (don't convert)
One of the lessons from the experience of countries which have successfully adopted
the international metric system is that the transition is best achieved if people
are encouraged to think and work in metric measures from the outset without attempting
to convert from imperial.
Although the provision of conversion charts can help people initially to gain confidence
in using metric, they can also prove to be a hindrance if they are retained indefinitely.
This is because people have continued to visualise the familiar imperial measure
and then have more or less painfully expressed this in the equivalent metric unit.
It is rather like attempting to communicate in a foreign language by continually
referring to a dictionary, and it is little wonder that some people have rejected
this laborious process and have become resistant to metric units.
Experience has shown that it is far simpler and quicker just to set aside imperial
units and to learn to visualise and use metric units without the intermediate stage
of converting from imperial.
Phase out supplementary indications
The UK Government's approach to metrication has been characterised by extensive
use of "supplementary indications" - that is, giving the imperial equivalent to
the primary metric measure. This practice is consistent with the European Union’s
Units of Measurement Directive (181/80/EEC), which now "authorises" supplementary
indications indefinitely, subject to a review in 2019.
However, the biggest problem with supplementary indications has been that dual pricing
has given no incentive to either traders or customers to adapt to change and to
think in metric. Assurances were given to Parliament by nervous Ministers that customers
could continue to order goods in imperial measures, and the trader would simply
translate the imperial quantity into the metric equivalent when pricing the goods.
The Government accepted little or no responsibility for attempting to educate the
general public. The result appears to have been that metric measures and prices
have been widely ignored by large sections of the general public. As a result there
is little understanding that metric units are the primary system in the UK, and
a handful of recalcitrant market traders and small shopkeepers persist in weighing
in units that are no longer legal for trade.
Experience in other areas has been similar. The publication of weather reports and
forecasts in both metric and imperial (e.g. temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit)
or a mixture of the two (e.g. visibility in metres but rainfall in inches) has done
nothing to further the public understanding or use of metric. (Even worse has been
the use of 'Celsiheit': when the media report low temperatures in Celsius but
high temperatures in Fahrenheit!)
Similarly, the media have not helped the situation by routinely reporting foreign
news stories either in imperial measures only (even when the original source is
metric) or in metric measures with imperial equivalent. It is as though news editors
(or individual journalists) have assumed that their readers are incapable of understanding
metric units and are not prepared to contribute to their education.
For all these reasons, therefore, UKMA is not generally in favour of supplementary
indications and does not wish to see their use extended to other fields such as
road signage. Rather UKMA favours a "clean break" approach whereby traders, customers,
readers, motorists and so forth simply adjust "overnight" to the new system and
use it exclusively - just as we now do when we go on holiday or business abroad.
Following the decision of the EU to "authorise" supplementary indications
indefinitely, it would not be possible for the UK Government to ban them
(even if it wanted to), but it could and should discourage their use, particularly
by setting a good example.
Avoid (or minimise) transitional periods
It follows from the last point that UKMA does not generally favour transitional
periods during which dual systems are in use - except where a genuine case can be
made on practical grounds, such as the time needed to re-equip factories, replace
scales, train staff or change road signs. The experience of other countries has
shown that, provided that there is adequate government support, persons within the
normal intelligence range can adjust to a new system in a few days.
As described above, the UK's programme of adoption of the metric system has been
exceptionally slow when compared with that of other countries. UKMA considers that
most of this delay has been time wasted - attributable mainly to successive politicians'
attempts to postpone potentially unpopular decisions until after they have left
office.
UKMA therefore believes that transitional periods during which dual systems are
in operation should be as short as possible unless there are very exceptional grounds.
This is in accordance with the "clean break" philosophy outlined above.