§ Lord Monsonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 provide that delivery drivers and their passengers are exempt "while on a journey which does not exceed 50 metres" when it is required that imperial measurements be officially used in all matters relating to vehicle traffic on public highways. [HL158]
§ Lord Davies of OldhamThe EU requirements for harmonisation of units of measurement are set out in Council Directive 80/181/EEC as amended. The directive requires member states to adopt metric units as the primary system of measurement for economic, public health, public safety or administrative purposes (including the making of legislation). Amendments made by Directive 89/617/EEC provide for the continuation in use for specific purposes of certain units, which for the UK include the mile and yard in the context of road traffic signs, until a date to be fixed by the member state concerned.
The Government's guidance issued by the Department for Trade and Industry in 1995 for public sector bodies advises the use of metric units for the conduct of all public sector business, except where the continuation in use of imperial units is specifically permitted. Distances in government publications and statutory instruments other than those relating to road traffic signs are generally expressed in metric units.
The draft Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 therefore use metric units of measurement.