AAAARGH!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Unfortunately, there WILL be mix-ups and general confusion when two countries that border each other use different systems of measurement. Canada hasn't been on the metric system that long, really.

My fiancee's parents still recall using the imperial system (miles, inches, feet, etc) and still use that system of measurement for some things. Most of the Canadians I know also use pounds to describe weight, in addition to feet and inches to denote height as well. So while the official system of measurement in Canada may be metric (and perhaps that's what the majority of Canadians know and use today), there are probably still quite a few citizens of that country who remember and use the imperial system.

While I don't understand that lady being so rude and obstinate, it is possible that she really didn't know the difference between kilometers and miles. For the most part, Americans aren't taught to think in (or use) the metric system, unless specifically working within the sciences. Even then, metric is only used at a particular place and time and we end up using U.S. customary units of measurement (this is very similar to the imperial system and was, in fact, based on it), so our overall exposure to the metric system is quite limited.

Since being with my fiancee, I've had an easier time thinking in metric and converting the two systems back and forth. It's still difficult to do, however. When I see the number "50" on a road in Canada (and it's obviously in km/h), my first thought is, "Hey, isn't that a little fast for a regular street?" I'm naturally thinking in mph. If I convert it though, "50 km/h" becomes "30 mph" which makes a lot more sense to me.

When in the U.S., I'm driving my car (which has readouts in both mph and km/h on the speedometer), so I usually relate the speed to my fiancee in km/h so she'll understand it better. I also tend to convert distance to kilometers and temperature to celsius for her as well.

Anyway, the point of this post was just to say that unless there's a good reason, the vast majority of Americans will not learn (and subsequently use) the metric system. There's really no need to, unless circumstances call for it (such as career or personal life), since I doubt this country is planning on switching over to metric anytime soon.

[Texanadian 10]

When I see the number "50" on a road in Canada (and it's obviously in km/h), my first thought is, "Hey, isn't that a little fast for a regular street?" I'm naturally thinking in mph. If I convert it though, "50 km/h" becomes "30 mph" which makes a lot more sense to me.

Being a Canadian who is fluent in both, I never had much trouble converting speed limit signs. But what did get me was driving my wife's US vehicle and shifting into 3rd gear at 25 mph. The 25 just seems way too low to be shifting. I'm expecting a 40.

As for the original lady who swore the odometer was in miles. She needs to be immediately given a promotion to work as head of USCIS. Perhaps a border agent instead. Either way....

Edited May 21, 2008 by Texanadian

[Texanadian 10]

Sigh. I was at the local tag office earlier today. They had sent me my Florida car title in miles instead of kilometers. There was a really rude and nasty clerk "helping" me who insisted that miles and kilometers were exactly the same thing and "what was my problem". She then took me out to my car and demanded that I "prove" to her that the odometer reading was in kilometers. This was after she "guaranteed" that "ALL Fords are built exactly the same way."

You should have told her that all cars Canadian or US have kms on the odometer and that no car has it in miles. Hahahaha

All cars are the same, right?

[L_n_O 3]

I blame the American education system.

I second that

[SonoranSongbird 3]

The only time I think of miles and kilometers being the same thing is when I see a speed limit sign in mph.

Yeah, that doesn't work too well, actually, come to think of it.