THE HISTORY OF DRIVING

It was probably Romans who were the first to use "TRAFFIC SIGNS" in Britain. They marked off road distances at one thousand paces(approximately 1 mile) with stones called "milliaries".

Most early SIGNPOSTS were erected by private individuals at their own expense. A law was passed in1648 required each parrish to place guide posts at crossroads, but it was not until after the General Turnpike Act 1773 that these "guideposts" or "fingerposts" became more common.

FINGERPOST

During the second half of the 19th century, BICYCLES became more popular. Steep hills and sharp bends were very dangerous for early cyclists, and "danger" and "caution" signs were erected at the top of steep hills. Signs showing skull and crossbones were erected at the most dangerous places. Local authorities and cycling organisations installed an estimated 4,000 warning signs. 1920 BICYCLE The year 1896 heralded the era of the MOTOR CAR, and some MOTORING ASSOCIATIONS took up the business of placing signs. The Motor Car Act 1903 made local authorities responsible for placing certain warning and prohibitory signs. The signs were for crossroads, steep hills and dangerous bends. "A" and "B" numbering of roads was introduced in 1921, and these numbers were shown on fingerpost-style signs alongside the destination and distance. Town and village name signs and warning signs for schools, level crossings and double bends were introduced at the same time.

OLD VINTAGE CAR

In 1900 the first British women to pass her driving test was Miss Vera Hedges Butler, she had to travel to France to take her test.

It was not until after 1918 that WHITE LINES began to appear on British roads, and during the 1920s their use spread rapidly. In 1926 the first ministry of transport circular on the subject laid down general principles on the use of white lines. In the 1930s, white lines were used as "Stop" lines at road junctions controlled by either police or traffic lights.

The main task of signposting our roads during the 1920s and the 1930s still fell on the motoring organisations, but in 1931 a committee chaired by Sir Henry Maybury was asked to recommend improvements to the signing then in use, and by 1933 further new signs began to appear, including "No Entry" and "Keep Left" signs, warning signs for narrow roads and bridges, low bridges, roundabouts and hospitals. Other signs followed during the 1930s, including "Halt at major road ahead". These formed the basis of our traffic signing until the early 1960s.

Drivers and pedestrians in the UK had to wait for the publication of the first edition of THE HIGHWAY CODE in 1931 before road safety began to improve.

FIRST HIGHWAY CODE

Reflecting road studs, often referred to as CATS EYES came into use in 1934 invented by Percy Shaw (1890-1976) who was originally a road-mender. Said to be inspired by the sight of his car head lamps reflected in the eyes of a cat on a dark, foggy night. Manufactured by the company founded by Shaw in his hometown of Halifax, Yorkshire, millions of Cats eyes have been installed in roads all over the world.

In 1935, the British DRIVING TEST was introduced, the Transport Minister, Leslie Hore-Belisha said, “Driving is an art in which those who are engaged should, in the interest of their own and of the public’s safety, take the greatest pains to make themselves proficient.

The VOLUNTARY DRIVING TEST cost 37½ pence and the pass rate was 63%. The first person to pass was Mr Been. Test centres did not exist and examiners would meet candidates at a pre-arranged spot, like a park or railway station.

The COMPULSORY DRIVING TEST was introduced on 1^st June 1935, for all drivers who started driving on or after 1^st of April 1934.The driving test has made our roads much safer. In 1934 there were only 2.5 million vehicles on Britain’s roads, and 7,343 people were killed in road accidents.

By 1944, white lines were also being used to indicate TRAFFIC LANES and define the boundary of the main carriageway at entrances to side roads and lay-bys, and in conjunction with "halt" signs. In 1959, regulations came into effect to control OVERTAKING by the use of double white lines.

WARNING TRIANGLE

It was realised that the old system of signing would not be adequate for MOTORWAYS, and the Anderson Committee was set up in 1958 to consider new designs. It recommended much larger signs, with blue backgrounds. Then in 1961, the Worboys Committee began to review the complete system of traffic signing. It concluded that the UK should adopt the main principles of the European system, with the message expressed as a symbol within a RED TRIANGLE (for warning signs) or a RED CIRCLE (for prohibition). Work began on the conversion of British signs in 1965, and this is still the basic system in use today.

PROHIBITIVE SIGN

Later developments include the use of yellow box markings at busy road junctions, special signs and road markings at pedestrian crossings, mini roundabouts and bus lanes. REGULATIONS published in 1994 included new regulatory and warning signs and simplified the yellow line system of waiting restrictions that was originally introduced in the 1950s. Further Regulations were published in 2002.

In 2004 there were over 30 million vehicles and the Department of Transport report on road casualties (2004) quoted only 3,221 fatalities.

TRAFFIC LIGHT

More use is being made of TECHNOLOGY providing better information to drivers regarding priorities, hazards, delays and diversions.The future will undoubtedly see more developments in traffic signing to keep pace with the changing traffic demands on our roads.

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THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH DRIVING TEST
Driving Test Chronology 1935 Voluntary driving test is introduced by the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to avoid a rush of candidates when the test becomes compulsory. 1^st June 1935 Compulsory driving test brought in for all drivers who started driving on or after 1^st April 1934. 2^nd September 1939 Driving test suspended for the duration of World War Two and resumed on 1^st November 1946. 18^th February 1947 A period of a year granted for wartime provisional licences to be converted into full licence without passing the test. 24^th November 1956 Testing suspended during the Suez Crisis. Learners allowed to drive unaccompanied and examiners help to administer petrol rations. May 1975 Candidates no longer have to demonstrate arm signals 1^st April 1990 The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is created as an executive agency of the Department for Transport. April 1991 Reverse Parking manoeuvre becomes a compulsory part of the test. November 1995 The Pass Plus scheme was introduced to help newly qualified young drivers gain valuable driving experience and gain valuable driving experience and reduce the risk of them being involved in an accident. 1^st July 1996 A separate written theory test was introduced, replacing questions asked about the Highway Code during practical test. 1^st March 1997 Photograph ID is now required for both practical and theory tests 6th April 1999 Cars being used for a driving test must now have a front seat belt, head restraint and rear-view mirror. 14^th November 2002 The hazard perception element was introduced into the theory test, this uses video clips to test candidates’ awareness of hazards on the road. 1^st September 2003 Show me / Tell me vehicle safety questions were added to the beginning of the driving test. September 2007 The number of theory test questions increased from 35 to 50 and the new pass mark is 43. The pass mark for the HPT for learners is 44 out of 75. October 2010 Independent Driving was introduced into the driving test and one set manoeuvre was removed. On the current DSA test the examiner will choose any one of the following set manoeuvres: Bay Park, Parallel Park, Reverse around a Corner or Turn in the Road. Every third candidate will have to perform an Emergency Stop as a second manoeuvre. *“Safe driving for life.”*

KJT DRIVER TRAINING

THE HISTORY OF DRIVING