Together with the installation of stones and special pillars that reflect the distance to a particular settlement or direction of movement, the history of road signs began. With the development of the automotive industry, their number had to be significantly increased. Modern traffic rules contain more than a hundred signs that allow motorists to determine the order of travel, to notice danger at the right time, and so on.
About the purpose of road symbols
When there is a lot of traffic, there is a need for precise flow control, so the main focus is on this. Although the history of road signs is only a little over a hundred years old, over a thousand elements have been invented in a given period of time. Materials of manufacture, presentation options and external characteristics have changed, but the essence has always remained the same.
The following characters are distinguished:
- warning;
- prohibiting;
- informational;
- service;
- determining the priority of travel;
- providing additionalinformation;
- establishing special regulations.
When designating in each case, certain colors and geometric shapes are used. This is done to simplify the perception of signs, as well as their timely detection when moving. In addition, elements of the same type are always easier to remember.
First international unification
The world's first unification, which took place in 1909 in the capital of France, can be connected with the official history of the appearance of road signs. As a result of the work done, a special convention for road transport on an international scale was created. The agreement was signed by 16 European countries. Russia was among them.
To a modern driver, the first set of signs may seem unexpected, since the number of cars at that time did not exceed 6 thousand units. Mostly horse-drawn and rail transport moved along the streets. Cars began to influence the formation of traffic rules much later.
At the turn of the century, the installation of signs was preoccupied by activists in the automotive community and tourism organizations. However, private initiative was a temporary phenomenon. First, the problems of unification began to be solved at the international level, then state authorities began to deal with them.
The appearance of the standard in the Soviet Union
The delegation of the USSR in 1926 visited an international conference in Paris, where the agendaa new convention was passed. The Soviet history of road signs was intertwined with many states. The presented convention was also signed by:
- Germany.
- Belgium.
- Cuba.
- Ireland.
- Denmark.
- Bulgaria.
- Greece.
- Finland.
- Italy.
- Czechoslovakia and other countries of the world.
The next document was established in 1931, according to which the number of characters reached 26 units. However, after 6 years, their number was reduced, as the state authorities were able to prove that many of them distract the attention of people who drive.
Disruption of unification in the middle of the 20th century
In the history of road signs there was also an unsuccessful attempt to bring them to a single form, which happened in 1949. Some time after the Second World War, another convention on traffic standards was adopted in Geneva, and a protocol was drawn up on signals and symbols. The documentation was approved at the international level with the participation of 80 states.
However, only 34 countries supported the protocol on existing road signs. The developed system was not approved by the world powers - Great Britain, the USSR and the USA. At that time, the following types of sign systems were used on the roads.
| View | Countries |
| Symbol | Used in the USSR and many European countries. |
| Text | Used in New Zealand, USA and Australia. |
| Mixed | Was deployed in the UK, as well as in selected countries in Latin America and Asia. |
The British and Americans did not agree to abandon the signs operating on the territory of the country. Therefore, at this time, you can observe their diversity.
Signing of the Geneva Protocol of the USSR after 1959
Studying the history of traffic signs, one cannot fail to note an important period for the Soviet Union. After the signing of the Geneva Protocol in 1959, their number increased to 78 pieces. They are becoming more familiar to modern motorists.
The sign forbidding movement without stopping appeared even then, but the inscription on it was made in Russian. It was enclosed in a triangle, which was enclosed in a circle. At that time, a sign appeared that canceled all existing restrictions. Before that, it was not used on the roads. A car has been used as the main symbol prohibiting overtaking.
Vienna Convention: Great Unity
It was in Vienna in 1968 that a compromise was found between the two systems - American and European. In the formation of the modern history of the emergence of road signs, this moment became a turning point. 68 states took part in the signing of the convention.
To reach a compromise with the Americans, Europeans inthe established system was introduced by the octagonal STOP sign. In the international system, it has become the only text element. Initially, it was assumed that white letters directly on a red background would definitely attract the attention of passing drivers.
In the Soviet Union, a similar sign appeared on the roads in 1973 after the official entry into force of paragraphs of GOST 10807-71. Road symbols in the documentation are quite recognizable for current drivers. The Vienna Convention has played an important role in unifying the traffic sign system. The new order began to be recognized in the USSR, China, the USA, Japan and Great Britain.
This is the history of road signs. Since 1968, modern motorists have been able to travel the world without any difficulty. Reading signs on the roads has ceased to cause difficulties for drivers. All countries began to look up to the examples of the Vienna Convention. However, in fact, no one is forbidden to use their own analogues, so sometimes you still come across incomprehensible road signs.
On publications of traffic regulations in Russia and the USSR
Approximately two years before the formation of the Soviet Union, the first rules of the road were issued. The title of the document implied movement in Moscow and its environs. Within those rules, the most important issues were described. Modern documents are very different from those that were first presented in 1920, but then they managed to start the journey.
Soon, driver's licenses began to be issued, and high-speedthe scope of movement on the roads of the country. In 1940, general rules were published, which were edited for a particular city. The unified SDA documentation was approved only in 1951.
As a conclusion
In general, the history of the creation of traffic rules and road signs is very interesting and instructive. It resembles the system of formation of states and various entities. On them you can study the history of various countries of the world. New items in the rules will always be introduced, as technology is constantly evolving. Over time, new signs will appear. In Russia, one of them began to be used quite recently. It involves taking photographs on the roads. Along with it, temporary signs with special characters on a yellow background were introduced.
