Great example of the UK's split personality when it comes to Imperial/Metric units, reminds me of the story of the guy who recently went to his greengrocers for some potatoes. He asked for 5 pounds of potatoes, to which the greengrocer replied "you've got to ask for kilos now". "Ok give me 5 pounds of kilos then" came the reply!!
I guess a mile sounds a great deal longer than 1200 metres. Mind you, for the older folk, if they had said 1312 yards and 1 mile (1760 yards) then perhaps they would have realised they are not that different!!