Why Are Traffic Signs in the USA Different from Other Countries?

We see it in many places from Japan to Russia. to the same type of signs Americans are quite foreign. Americans with their own traffic signs, Since the 1930s uses its own signs. Of course, this situation can confuse many tourists visiting the country.

After all, traffic signs are the same in almost every country. does not carry a foreign language But imagine visiting the USA without knowing English. How difficult would it be to understand the signs, right? So why do you think they use these signs? Is it just out of spite or do they really have logical reasons?

Although the German Carl Benz produced the first car in 1888, the person who mass produced it was American Henry Ford.

With the introduction of mass production, automobiles became more accessible. This naturally leads to the construction of roads, birth of traffic signs and caused some rules to be introduced. Of course, with Henry Ford living in Detroit, America; Detroit, “vehicle city” rose to the position.

Increasing demand over time led to the production of more vehicles, and in this journey from past to present, America is now the world’s leading vehicle. automobile capital became. However, as we mentioned above; traffic signs were unique to America.

As we know, each state has its own specific laws and regulations. These obligations were also valid for traffic signs and signs in the past.

Not every law works the same in every state, which has shown us for years that America has a unique legal system. In general private automobile companies It determined special traffic signs for each state.

From this situation no one was bothered In fact, they saw its benefits frequently over time, so in 1927, the American Association of State Officials (AEYYB) created the Compendium of US Standard Road Signs and Signs.

However, the National Street and Highway Safety Conference in 1930 Street Traffic Signs Manual took it out. However, having two different manuals naturally caused confusion among people and they could not be based on a certain standard. 1 year later a joint committee was established and a new handbook was published.

We can still frequently see the traces of the jointly issued new handbook in America today.

About 20 years later in 1951 II. After World War II The United Nations was founded and an international standard of road signs was established. We mentioned it at the beginning of our content; The purpose of this standard was for traffic signs to be universal. So when you want to visit any country the same traffic signs in every country it would happen.

The United Nations wanted to test this standard on America and Ohio, New York, Minnesota He took the first steps to carry out these experiments in states such as. However, since America has been acting according to its own traffic standards for many years, it could not adopt these signs as expected and people to confusion led.

The United Nations again tried to lead by creating the Vienna Convention, but the United States did not participate.

Of course, America was not the only country that rejected this convention; between them such as China, Canada, Australia and Ethiopia There were also big countries. The reason behind the USA’s rejection is that all states are currently special to them It was to have highway signs and signals.

If they had accepted of all states It would have to act according to these rules, which would cause complexity among the states. But this is of course the USA’s highway rules Doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

The USA passed the Highway Safety Act in 1966. If any state refuses to enforce this law, it may be turned to the federal government. 10% of highway funds had to give.

In 1970, an attempt was made to switch to image-based traffic signs again in America.

But again and again this attempt failed. Contrary to expectations, drivers image based traffic signs He found it confusing and could not adopt it. Compared to the ones used before, the new signs are as if they were made in America. by creating chaos It proved inefficient, and the signs were quietly removed from the highway in 1978.

These experiments prove to us how Americans adopted their own state systems and rules. If you go to America in the future, you should traffic signs It would be beneficial for you to study thoroughly because naturally, this is sanctioned in America. quite a lot!

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