=As early as the Zhou Dynasty in China, there were records of "setting up trees to mark the way." In ancient Rome, milestones and directional signs were placed on the military road from Rome to Capua. However, most people believe that the origin of modern road traffic signs should be traced back to December 1879 in England-the Secklinger Club, a local organization participating in the Cycling Union, installed a warning sign on a road leading to the mountains: "To Secklinger-Danger on this hill." This warning sign, painted on an iron plate, became the earliest documented road traffic sign in history. The first administrative body to install traffic signs on roads was the Interrn Moorland Roads Authority in Gloucestershire, England. It installed a warning sign in a prominent location on Moorrn Hill in October 1881.
In October 1901, after obtaining permission from the Gloucestershire Parliament, the Automobile Union installed the world's first dedicated warning sign for automobiles on the top of Bad Lip Hill in Gloucester. Later, based on the Motor Vehicles Ordinance of 1903, the relevant British authorities gained the power to set up traffic signs, and on March 10th of the same year, issued a document to local authorities recommending the following traffic signs: a white snake with a diameter of 457 mm (18 inches) painted on a wooden board to indicate speed limits; a red circle to indicate prohibition; a red triangle to indicate warning; and a diamond to indicate intersections, dangerous corners, and sharp turns. Because not all local authorities accepted these recommendations at the time, a chaotic situation arose where traffic signs were inconsistent and difficult for drivers to immediately identify. It wasn't until after 1930 that a unified traffic sign ordinance was recognized throughout Britain, making traffic signs more standardized.
In 1903, thanks to the active promotion of the French Automobile Federation, France became the first country in the world to use standardized traffic signs nationwide. At that time, French traffic signs consisted of black wooden boards with white paint indicating "Left Turn," "Right Turn," "Bridge," and "Danger Uphill Road," among other warnings for drivers.
In 1908, the first International Road Conference held in Paris raised the issue of standardized traffic signs, deciding to implement internationally unified traffic signs. Participating countries and regions were required to paint standardized traffic sign symbols such as "uneven road," "intersection," "curve," and "railway crossing ahead" on triangular wooden boards, outlined with red lines for visibility, but no agreement was reached. Numerous conferences were held in Europe, the Americas, and Africa to discuss the standardization of regional and global traffic signs. Traffic management authorities in European countries and around the world incorporated the standardized traffic signs into their road traffic management, and further innovated and developed them based on the road conditions of 36 different countries.
In 1935, the first edition of the *Manual of United Nations Traffic Control Devices* was published in the United States, recommending standardized methods and standards for the production of traffic signs. The manual even suggested using luminescent materials for traffic signs to improve nighttime traffic safety.
In 1968, the United Nations published the *Convention on Road Traffic and Road Signs and Signals* as the basis for national traffic sign development. Since then, traffic signs in various countries have gradually moved towards international standardization in terms of classification, shape, color, and design. With the increasing prevalence of motor vehicles and road development, more and more countries and governments have recognized the important role of traffic signs and markings. Led and promoted by some developed countries, these simple traffic control facilities have enabled continuous improvement in traffic safety and management technology. Meanwhile, with the efforts of international organizations such as the European Union and the United Nations, more and more countries have joined the international movement for the standardization of road traffic signs and signals, seeking new ways to achieve convenient international transportation.
In January 2022, the General Office of the Ministry of Transport issued a "Notice on the Implementation of the Special Project for Optimizing and Upgrading Highway Traffic Signs and Markings," announcing the progress of the work at each stage and outlining requirements for the continued optimization and upgrading of highway traffic signs and markings. The focus was on complex road sections such as highway interchanges and entrances/exits to improve the coordination and adaptation of traffic signs and markings with the related road network; actively promoting the revision and formulation of standards and specifications such as the "Road Traffic Signs and Markings," "Specifications for the Setting of Highway Traffic Signs and Markings," and "General Technical Specifications for Highway Traffic Markings," and establishing a sound long-term mechanism for dynamic evaluation and optimization of highway traffic signs and markings.
