The Drivers Ed Company

A  history of traffic signs.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, bicycles became more popular.  Steep hills and sharpbends were very dangerous for earlycyclists, and "danger" and "caution"signs were erected at the top ofsteep hills. Signs showing skull andcrossbones were erected at the most dangerous places. Local authorities and cycling organisations installed an estimated 4000 warning signs. 

The year 1896 heralded the era of the motor car, and some motoring associations took up the business of placing signs. The Motor Car Act 1903 made local authorities responsible forplacing certain warning and prohibitory signs. The signs were for crossroads,steep hills and dangerous bends.

 "A" and "B" numbering of roads was introduced in 1921, and these numbers were shown on fingerpost-style signs alongside the destination and distance. Town or village name signs and warning signs for schools, level crossingsand double bends were introduced at the same time.

The main task of signposting our roads during the 1920s and1930s still fell on the motoring organisations, but in in 1931 a committee chaired by Sir Henry Maybury was asked to recommend improvements to the signing then in use.

By 1933 further new signs began to appear, including "No entry" and "Keep left" signs, warning signs for narrow roads and bridges, lowbridges, roundabouts and hospitals. Other signs followed duringthe 1930s, including "Halt at major road ahead". These formed the basis of our traffic signing until the early 1960s. 

It was not until after 1918 that white lines began to appear on our roads, and during the 1920s their use spread rapidly. 

In 1926 the first Ministry ofTransport  laid down general principles on the use of white lines.

In the1930s, white lines were used as"stop" lines at road junctions controlled by either police or traffic lights. Reflecting road studs (often referred to as "cat's eyes") first came into use in 1934.  By 1944, white lines were also being used to indicate traffic lanes and define the boundary of the main carriageway at entrances to side roads and lay-bys. 

It was realised that the old system of signing would not be adequate for motorways.

The AndersonCommittee was set up in 1958 to consider new designs. It recommendedmuch larger signs, with bluebackgrounds.

Then, in 1961, the Worboys Committee reviewed the complete system of traffic signing.

It concluded that the UK should adopt the main principles of the European system, with the message expressed as a symbol within a redtriangle (for warning signs) or a red circle (for prohibitions).   Work began on the conversion of British signs in 1965, and this is still the basic system in use today.

Later developments include the use of yellowbox markings at busy road junctions, special signs and road markings at pedestrian crossings,mini roundabouts and bus lanes.

Regulations published in 1994 included new regulatory and warning signs and simplified the yellow line system .  Further Regulations were published in 2002. More use is being made of new technology to provide better information to driverson hazards, delays and diversions. The future will undoubtedly see more developments in traffic signing to keep pace with the changing traffic demands on our roads.