What's the deal with KPH?

penpendisarapen · 02-05-2004, 03:33 PM

After getting on the freeway, I glanced at the speedometer and was alarmed when it read 110. My first instinct was to slow down, but I didn't seem to be going that fast, and other cars were passing me. I didn't seem to be going more than 65. I figured that maybe the speedometer was busted. After a few minutes of driving, and getting paranoid about my actual speed, I looked at the speedometer again, and was slightly embarassed

ops: to see that it was 110 KPH. Somehow I must have accidentaly hit the MPH/KPH button earlier.

Why the heck do we need that button anyway? I know that most other countries use the metric system, but were in America, dammit! :guns:

PriusDreamer · 02-05-2004, 03:45 PM

You being a californian should know that it's just a hop , skip and about 500 miles (

) to our neighbors to the North. This feature would be very handy if traveling in Canada. Once got a ticket in Sask. for going 138 KPH. Might have helped if I had that on my digital readout.... or maybe NOT.

rockluvr · 02-05-2004, 04:58 PM

It's nice that you can switch to KPH if you go to Canada, but I would have prefered that it be a choice on the computer screen - like choosing the language - English or French. I don't see the need to have a button for that. Then Toyota could have used the button for something else.

Wolfman · 02-05-2004, 05:03 PM

If you look at an analog speedometer, you'll find the KPH in smaller text around the inner diameter of the guage. It likely has to do with regulations made back when the US was supposed to move over to the metric system. Since it's a requirement to have the KPH on the speedometer, and we have digital guages, we get a button to switch between the two. As rockluver said, it's nice to be able to switch between the two for travel north of the US. I'll be utilizing that very feature in less than two weeks.

penpendisarapen · 02-05-2004, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PriusDreamer
You being a californian should know that it's just a hop , skip and about 500 miles ( ) to our neighbors to the North. This feature would be very handy if traveling in Canada. Once got a ticket in Sask. for going 138 KPH. Might have helped if I had that on my digital readout.... or maybe NOT.

I've never driven to Canada, but that makes sense. Still, I think the button would be better off elsewhere. Somewhere where my fumbling fingers won't give me a surprise.

DaveG · 02-06-2004, 06:00 AM

Perhaps they left it there so you have an easy excuse to try and get yourself out of a speeding ticket?

"But officer, I didn't know it was in KM/H"

Dave

Atoyot · 02-07-2004, 10:45 AM

Quote:

like choosing the language - English or French.

French!!???!?!?!

ukeright: I wonder why it wasn't Spanish? More American's speak Spanish than French.

Atoyot

rockluvr · 02-07-2004, 11:33 AM

Actually I was wondering that myself, but maybe they are thinking more of the European or Canadian market than the U.S. for this choice. Anybody know what is up with this language choice?

htmlspinnr · 02-07-2004, 01:14 PM

North American cars are generally targeted for the US or Canada. Canada has one province where the official language is French, hence the choice.

If the US ever establishes Spanish as an official language, I'm sure we'll see Spanish as an offering as well. Somehow I doubt that will happen anytime soon with society's current stigma on illegal immigrants from our southern borders.

02-05-2004, 03:33 PM	#1
penpendisarapen Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pacifica, CA Posts: 51 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What's the deal with KPH? After getting on the freeway, I glanced at the speedometer and was alarmed when it read 110. My first instinct was to slow down, but I didn't seem to be going that fast, and other cars were passing me. I didn't seem to be going more than 65. I figured that maybe the speedometer was busted. After a few minutes of driving, and getting paranoid about my actual speed, I looked at the speedometer again, and was slightly embarassed ops: to see that it was 110 KPH. Somehow I must have accidentaly hit the MPH/KPH button earlier. Why the heck do we need that button anyway? I know that most other countries use the metric system, but were in America, dammit! :guns: __________________ Victor Seaside by the Seaside __________________

02-05-2004, 05:03 PM	#4
Wolfman Moderator (on leave) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Paradise, TX Posts: 1,205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	If you look at an analog speedometer, you'll find the KPH in smaller text around the inner diameter of the guage. It likely has to do with regulations made back when the US was supposed to move over to the metric system. Since it's a requirement to have the KPH on the speedometer, and we have digital guages, we get a button to switch between the two. As rockluver said, it's nice to be able to switch between the two for travel north of the US. I'll be utilizing that very feature in less than two weeks. __________________ 1981 Mercedes 300D 1982 Thomas Transitliner 2003 Toyota Prius (gone, but will not be forgotten, thanx Toyota for bringing us the future) 1998 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD 1981 John Deere Liquifire (winter toy) 1983 Yamaha Virago 920 2004 Honda GL1800 Goldwing (delivered 7.6.04 with .4 miles on it)

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02-05-2004, 03:45 PM	#2
PriusDreamer Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 71 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	You being a californian should know that it's just a hop , skip and about 500 miles ( ) to our neighbors to the North. This feature would be very handy if traveling in Canada. Once got a ticket in Sask. for going 138 KPH. Might have helped if I had that on my digital readout.... or maybe NOT.

02-05-2004, 04:58 PM	#3
rockluvr Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 155 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	It's nice that you can switch to KPH if you go to Canada, but I would have prefered that it be a choice on the computer screen - like choosing the language - English or French. I don't see the need to have a button for that. Then Toyota could have used the button for something else.

02-06-2004, 06:00 AM	#6
DaveG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 807 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: C Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Perhaps they left it there so you have an easy excuse to try and get yourself out of a speeding ticket? "But officer, I didn't know it was in KM/H" Dave

02-07-2004, 11:33 AM	#8
rockluvr Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 155 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Actually I was wondering that myself, but maybe they are thinking more of the European or Canadian market than the U.S. for this choice. Anybody know what is up with this language choice?

02-07-2004, 01:14 PM	#9
htmlspinnr Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ (Phoenix) Posts: 1,304 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	North American cars are generally targeted for the US or Canada. Canada has one province where the official language is French, hence the choice. If the US ever establishes Spanish as an official language, I'm sure we'll see Spanish as an offering as well. Somehow I doubt that will happen anytime soon with society's current stigma on illegal immigrants from our southern borders.