Shifting Gears: KPH vs. MPH
Driving to Alaska means you have to first drive through a large part of Canada, a real treat. However, Canada is a separate country with differing customs, and, for about 30 years now, the kilometers of the metric system instead of the miles that Americans are so familiar with.
Generally when you enter Canada you will see a sign something like this one, which gives at least a brief glimpse of the differences. The basic thing to remember is that kilometers are shorter than miles so there are more of them. The ratio is approximately 100 kilometers equals 60 miles.
Decades ago my father taught me a fairly simple way to figure things out in my head. His words were, "Multiply the number of kilometers by six and drop the last digit." For example, if a sign indicates your destination is 350 kilometers away, multiplying by six yields 2,100. Drop the last digit and you have 210 miles, a figure that is correct within a kilometer or two. Or if a speed limit sign in a school zone says 30 KPH, this formula will yield 18 MPH.
Labels: Driving in Canada
posted by Ron Dalby at
6/04/2007 10:20:00 AM
10 Comments:
Easy enough - does your speedometer also list kph? Mine does. For rate of travel, 100km at speed of 100 kph = 1 hour. It's sooo simple, if there are no traffic tieups.
By
Pondfrogster, at June 9, 2007 5:51 AM
Hello people. I have an easier way to convert, divide by 2 and then add 10 percent. So for 500 kilometers go to 250 and add 50, so about 300 miles. If you want to get really accurate add 12 percent instead of 10. That'll put it at 310 miles.
By
Andrew Weston, at June 9, 2007 1:08 PM
I'll be darn. Just when I though I know everything.
By
Anonymous, at June 9, 2007 2:33 PM
I am a canadian old enough to remember the old british system of measurements. A gal. of gas is 4.54 liters or 3.79 liters of a U.S. gallon. (I could never understand why americans only have 32 oz. to a quart and the british have 40 oz. to a quart).If you drive at 65 mph in the US then in Canada you are driving at 103 km/hr.. Also, gas milage is using liters per 100 Km. eg. 10 l./100km is about 26mpg U.S. or 28mpg imperal. I always found the gallon confusing because the american gallon and the imperal gallon are quite different. Please do note get me talking about the ounce. (Note, 3 different weight to an ounce).
By
TnT (Terry and Teri) Meyers, at June 9, 2007 10:12 PM
Divide the # of kilometer by 8 and multiple the result x 5.
80/8 = 10
10 x 5 = 50
80 kilometers = 50 miles
By
dickneal, at June 10, 2007 10:59 AM
Wow! I just returned from a trip to Italy. I wish I knew this then!
By
Anonymous, at June 10, 2007 11:54 AM
As a Canadian, I've always found it strange that even though you folks fought the British to obtain your independence from them, you are one of the only nations left that still use the old British system of weights and measurements! (I know - you call it "customary American" - but it's certainly based on the old British system!! :)
By
Anonymous, at June 11, 2007 3:53 AM
The Pondfrogster has the idea..why complicate the matter by using an extra step....J
By
Anonymous, at June 11, 2007 4:48 PM
Excellent! Just what we need living in North Dakota.
Thanx!
By
Anonymous, at June 11, 2007 6:02 PM
C'mon you guys..you're making a very simple process complicated, 80 Kms. is 48 mis. ( 80 X .6 ). 50 kms/per hour = 30 mph ( 50 X .6 ), or, 100 miles = 160 kms. ( 100 X 1.6 ), simple single step process.
50 mph X 1.6 = 80 km/per hour.
By
Anonymous, at June 16, 2007 5:03 PM
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