The History of Highway Safety Equipment

Roads have been providing humans with access to far off locations for thousands of years.  Highway safety equipment, however, has only come into widespread use within the last century, as motor vehicles became the primary means of transport.

Signage is the primary equipment that transportation officials use to enhance road safety.  In the first years of the 20th century, signs varied widely in size, shape, and construction.  Often, they were maintained by separate public or private entities, which could not agree with each other on a common pattern for roadside notices.  The first real steps towards standardization began in the United States in the early 1920's, when federal authorities published the first consistent guidelines for highways signage.  Among other things, they established the familiar shapes we see today, such as round markers as railroad crossings and square ones for hazardous condition notices.


In 1935, the first edition of the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) was published.  It set nationwide standards for all types of highway markers.  It has been updated many times since, with the most recent revision being released in 2009.

Not just the shape, but also the makeup of road signs and highway safety equipment, has evolved over time.  Since the end of World War II, signs made of aluminum and marked with retro-reflective materials have become the norm.  As the nation entered the 1970's, electronic road signs became common.  Today, they’re used to alert drivers to special conditions such as construction sites, congested areas, and scenes of accidents or deteriorated road conditions.  For example, in mountainous areas, they warn approaching vehicles of rock slides.

State-by-state highway safety initiatives have been in use since 1966, when Congress required their existence as a condition for receiving federal highway funding.  In the 21st century, traffic planners continue to look for ways to make road travel safer for all.