History of British Traffic Signs

5: 1964-1987: Tinkering around the edges

There were no major alterations to British signs over the next 20 years, but there were a few minor changes:

• In 1970, the use of bilingual signs in Wales was authorised for local directions; this was extended in 1985 to include the non-symbolic regulatory and warning signs;
• In 1975, the old triangle/circle `STOP' sign was ditched in favour of the red octagonal design, used in Europe;
  
• Also in 1975, the mini-roundabout was introduced, and a sign was needed for this;
• In 1981, the first metric signs were introduced. Although lengths continued to be signed in miles and yards, the metric tonne was phased in for weight restriction signs, and the metre began to be used for height restrictions.
  
• Signs were also needed for new features in the roads, for example traffic calming.
  
• White-on-brown tourist attraction signs were introduced in England and Wales after a successful pilot in Kent in 1986 (the Scots had already implemented their own).