The surprising transformation of Britain's road signs

Road signs are everywhere. But how much do you really know about the road sign system?

We didn't always have the standardised road sign system that's in place now. Previous generations would've found navigating the roads a lot more confusing.

So where did our wonderful (if sometimes bemusing) system come from?

From its origins in Roman Britain all the way to the present day – what we've discovered in our deep dive on the history of road signs may surprise you.

Roman origins

Brace yourself; we're going back to Provincia Britannia for the origins of the humble road sign.

The Romans brought their famously straight roads to Great Britain – many of which are still in use today. It stands to reason that this is probably when the first road signs or markers started to appear, in the form of the milestone.

Roman milestones were often cylindrical in shape and varied in height from 6ft to 13ft.

Yet, despite the ample surface area for information, some were inscribed with nothing more than a dedication to the emperor of the time. Forget about the practicalities, it seems some of those early milestones were nothing more than vanity projects.

Still, they did set a precedent in Britain.

Milestones continued to be placed even after the collapse of the Roman Empire, mostly at the expense of private individuals.

Turnpikes, tolls and the invention of the bicycle 

It took centuries for Parliament to take on greater responsibility for repairing and maintaining our roads.

Turnpike Acts allowed trusts to charge tolls for road use. The 1773 General Turnpike Act then led to guideposts (or 'fingerposts') being installed at crossroads across the country.

However, the introduction of warning signs didn't take off until the invention of the bicycle.

During the latter half of the nineteenth century, bikes became a lot more popular.

And Britain's steep hills, sharp bends and hazardous roads were very dangerous for those early cyclists.

The first warning signs would've been for 'danger' or 'caution' at the top of steep hills, but the most perilous spots were marked by a skull and crossbones sign.

While your first thought might be of pirates, there's no mistaking that any sign with a skull on it screams danger ahead. At the very least, it's enough to put you on your guard.

Cars! Cars! Cars!

No human invention has had the same impact on modern life as the motor car.

It’s shaped modern life in the last century, making small, rural communities more accessible and opening up opportunities to work further from home. But it's also redefined the road as we know it – making them more dangerous than ever before.

The faster your car moves, the more likely you are to suffer major injuries or a fatality in the event of a collision. With so many hazards on the road, reckless driving at high speeds is a shortcut for a crash.

The Motor Car Act of 1903 attempted to introduce some safety measures, with local authorities made responsible for placing warnings and prohibitory signs where needed.

But the main task of signposting our roads didn't start until the 1920s.

'No entry', 'keep left' and warning signs for narrow roads, bridges and roundabouts all started to make an appearance on our roads from 1933. The first Ministry of Transport even started putting markings directly on the road to help control the flow of traffic.

However, as technology advanced and cars became faster and more powerful, drivers struggled to decipher the slapdash series of signs on the roadside, which all varied in size, colour and font.

The motorway and the modern road sign

We've all reckoned with the hell that is the motorway.

It's bad enough with road signs.

Now imagine being on the M25 without clear road signs guiding you.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn't it?

Fortunately, some bright spark had the forethought to do something about it after design magazine Typographica published not one, but two essays condemning the terrible nature of British road signs. 

As the motorway came into being, it was clear an overhaul was needed. Government ministers hired London-based designers Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert to design and standardise a new signage system for our roads.

Kinneir was the perfect choice for this, having created the signage for Gatwick Airport just a few years previously.

Calvert, hired by Kinneir to work on the project with him, was ultimately responsible for the pictograms that we see in these signs now – including the 'men at work' and 'farm animals' signs.

Only two factors were specified in the brief for the sign system:

• What does a driver need to know while travelling at speed?
• At what distance do they need to know it?

Functionality was emphasised over style.

Together they tested reading distance, looking at clarity, letter spacing and type facing using methods that were unheard of at the time.

The results were obviously successful.

The system that Kinneir and Calvert produced is still in use today and their designs have endured as some of the most classic in history. They’ve been keeping us safe and informed on Britain's ever-busier roads for more than fifty years.

The road signs legacy: Why it matters today

So, now we've looked at the history of road signs and the chaos of navigating without them, we can appreciate this simple yet effective system that's become such an integral part of our driving experience.

In a world where technology constantly evolves and becomes outdated within months, there's something remarkably impressive about a design system that has remained relevant and effective for over half a century.

Kinneir and Calvert's road sign system stands as a testament to the power of thoughtful, user-centered design that puts clarity and functionality above all else.

While we might occasionally grumble about confusing junctions or missed turnings, just remember – without our trusty road signs, we'd all be quite literally lost.