Road signs in the United Kingdom

Road signs in the United Kingdom and its associated Crown dependencies and overseas territories conform broadly to the standards set by the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions set out the specific design and use of traffic signs in Great Britain, and the Traffic Signs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 in Northern Ireland. Features specific to British road signs include the use of miles and yards for distances, and the use of the Welsh language on signs in Wales and Scottish Gaelic on signs in parts of Scotland.

History

Early traffic signs

Milestones and direction markers

The Romans used milestones, some of which survive, notably on Stanegate beside Hadrian's Wall.

With the rise of coaching in the eighteenth century, roads were improved and milestones placed. An early set was that placed in 1728 – 1732 between Cambridge and Barkway by Dr William Warren of Trinity Hall (hence the crest on the stones).

The Turnpike Roads Act 1773 required markers to be erected along the turnpike roads indicating the distance between the main towns on the road. These were known as "guide posts" or "fingerposts".

Protection of bridges

After the passing of the Malicious Injuries to Property Act, 1827, highway authorities started to place notices on their bridges warning against anyone damaging them. Most notices were placed at the centre of the bridge on its parapet and so informed those in the community who used the bridge rather than addressing travellers There are about twenty of these notices in Dorset.