| In 1958 the first section of motorway in the UK, | | | | Another 'trick' used by the pair to great success |
| the Preston bypass - now part of the M6 was | | | | is design consistency. By keeping design elements |
| opened. This was quickly surpassed by the | | | | consistent across types of road signs - meaning is |
| opening of the M1 in the following year. The road | | | | conveyed without thinking about it. Elements that |
| signs we currently use across the UK were | | | | are used to great effect on road signs include, |
| designed for these roads and the exact same | | | | colours, shapes and symbols. Taking this one |
| designs are still with us today. This feat of future | | | | stage further some people believe that colours |
| proof sign design was presided over by Jock | | | | and shapes can have subconscious effects for |
| Kinnear and Margaret Calvert. Kinnear had been | | | | example: |
| Calverts tutor at the Chelsea College of Art in | | | | - Blue is considered calming and relaxed |
| 1950. In 1957 when he was appointed head of | | | | - Yellow or amber is alarming - conveying danger |
| design for Britain's roads - he hired her to work | | | | - The points on triangles convey danger |
| alongside him. Together they came up with the | | | | On road signs: |
| clear simple typography and easily understood | | | | - Motorway road signs or directions to |
| pictograms and symbols which we all know and | | | | motorways are always blue |
| love. Initially the cerulean and azure blue | | | | - A-road signs or directions to A roads are always |
| background with zinc-white lettering proposed for | | | | green |
| use on motorway signage was controversial. It | | | | This concept of consistent design elements are |
| was felt that the lower-case lettering was too | | | | also used in the UK's safety signs, for example: |
| bold and modern. Obviously these objections were | | | | - A red crossed through circle always means |
| overcome and the signage system they proposed | | | | something is "not allowed" or prohibition sign |
| came into universal use. | | | | - A triangle in black and yellow is associated with |
| After the success of the motorway road signage | | | | a warning sign of danger |
| - they moved on the A road network, coming up | | | | - A white symbol on a green background shows |
| with the green and white signs still in use today. | | | | the path or method to safety (a safe condition |
| Part of the strength of the symbol and pictogram | | | | sign) |
| system devised for road safety signs by the | | | | In a recent survey of 500 drivers, none were |
| partnership is it's lack of literal correctness. For | | | | able to correctly identify all 12 road signs |
| example the 'slippery surface' symbol shows a car | | | | presented to them. Does this mean that our road |
| tracks crossing in an exaggerated serve - the | | | | signs aren't clear enough? Should we embark on a |
| tracks wouldn't actually cross like this - but the | | | | campaign to re-design and replace all of the 1000's |
| symbol is universally understood. This graphical | | | | of road signs around the country? Probably not, |
| slight of hand means that the symbol designer | | | | more likely is that our knowledge of the Highway |
| isn't hampered by physical constants - but can | | | | code and general standards of driver ability have |
| focus on conveying immediate meaning. | | | | deteriorated to concerning levels... |