A sign of the times – how road markings have developed

Apr 12 2008 by Staff Reporter, Western Mail

The earliest road markings came from the Romans, who installed milestones on their new roads.

The invention of bicycles in 1871 led to roads becoming busier and more dangerous. The Bicycles Union started installing danger signs at sharp bends and steep hills – with a skull and crossbones sign for the most strenuous hills.

In 1903, the Motor Car Act allowed local authorities to erect their own road warning signs. A hollow red triangle meant hazard, a solid red disc meant prohibition, and a hollow white ring above a figure meant there was a speed limit in place.

Signs were removed or pointed in wrong directions during World War Two to confuse Germans in case they managed to invade.

In 1970, the use of bilingual signs in Wales was authorised for local direction signs. This was extended in 1985 to include regulatory and warning signs.

The best-loved road markings are cat’s eyes. The reflective road safety device was invented by Percy Shaw and introduced to British roads in 1947.

Yellow lines are undoubtedly the least popular road marking.

They were created in the late 18th century by a Yorkshire farmer, George Bamber, who used them to identify access routes to his land. The local mayor introduced the scheme to the town, and the original fine for parking on them was four pence.

Single yellow lines indicate that parking restrictions are in place, which are detailed in nearby signs. Double yellow lines mean no parking at any time.

The shortest double yellow line in the UK is just 24 inches long on Theatre Street in Norwich.

In 2006, a driver in Salford returned to his car to find that double yellow lines had been painted under it while it was parked.

After an investigation, the council decided not to enforce the ticket.

In 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available, eight million parking tickets were issued in England and Wales. The cost to motorists would have run to hundreds of millions of pounds.

Under new government proposals, councils will be able to issue parking tickets through the post if motorists are caught parking illegally on CCTV.