Miles or Kilometres? – How People Think and What They
Prefer: Results from a Major ICM Poll, 26-28 April 2002

This Opinion Poll was carried out by the well-respected opinion pollsters ICM, at the request of Mr W Cairns, among 1,001 adults between 26 and 28 April 2002.

Headline Results:

Question 1: How People Think of the Distance between two Places (Actual Question: When you are considering the distance between two places, which of the following statements best describes the way you think?)

Only in Miles 79%
Only in Kilometres 4%
Both 15%

Question 2: How People Prefer to see Distances on Road Signs (Actual Question: If you are driving, cycling or walking, how do you prefer to see the distance on road signs?)

Miles 86%
Kilometres 8%
Don’t Knows 6%

Other Key Findings:

86% of young people aged 18-24 prefer miles to kilometres on road signs (more than 25-34 and 35-44-year-olds! (83%))

Over 90% of blue collar workers prefer miles to kilometres on road signs – under 5% of them prefer kilometres

Only 1% of the country’s 11 million pensioners normally think in kilometres (that’s 110, 000 out of 11 million!)

The Scots (86%) think in miles more than the English! (79%)

Statement by the Council of Active Resistance to Metrication
This hand-out is produced by Active Resistance to Metrication. The Poll was carried out by ICM at the request of Mr Warwick Cairns. The British Weights and Measures Association, and the Steve Thoburn Metric Martyrs Fund, each contributed 50% of the costs. We are very grateful to all concerned for proving that Active Resistance to Metrication is carrying out its actions with the overwhelming support of the British people. Contact us via: Polly Peck, Information Officer, ARM, ‘Meadowbank’, 9 Station Cottages, Brampton Road, HUNTINGDON, Cambridgeshire PE29 3BW Tels: 01480 435837 or 01279 635789
Published 30 April 2002