Perhaps you have been driving a motor vehicle down a busy highway, seen several road signs, and thought about where they all originated from? Street signs were made to give you a sense of what you should expect on the road whether it be directions, distance, or possibly a condition on the road.

Using street signs flourished when the first motor vehicles hit the roadways. Drivers would need signs to tell them where they were going, how to get there and how far away they were. The Italian Touring Club, in 1895, was the earliest organized group to petition for better road signs for drivers.

In 1908 the International Road congress met in Rome to discuss signage on European roads. Out of this meeting came four pictorial signs that were to be displayed noting road conditions. The initial four road signs in modern times were the bump, curve, intersection, and railroad crossing signs. These four signs constituted the first European road sign system.

The European road sign system was the foundation for the American sign system. By 1960, North America was using international symbols to depict road conditions, speed limits, and other travel info for drivers.

Most countries now use pictorial symbols that can assist international travels get around with few problems. A typical set of international pictorial symbols have been designed for the majority of road conditions and speed limits.

Modern travelers may also see many electronic signs along roadways. These signs can flash pictures or words that will be promptly updated by computer to reflect changing conditions. In the US these electronic signs are even used to alert travelers to potential dangers and give travelers information.

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There is certainly all kinds of signs for each and every possible need. Road and street signs are but a tiny segment of signage. Some signs are a bit more personal in nature. If you need custom personalized signs for a home or business, check out A Sure Sign and have a sign designed for your household or business today.