History of British road safety

From ChapmanCentral

A brief history of road and road safety events with a UK focus. I've added the name of the monarch at the time for a bit of British historical perspective.

William IV

1800s

John Loudon McAdam, a Scot who had made a fortune as a merchant and "prize agent" in the USA, had found that the roads could be formed well and cheaply by rolling on successively finer grades of crushed stone onto a well-drained bed of packed earth; the use of graded stone of similar size led to a better and longer-lasting surface. This was much cheaper than the Roman system requiring carefully-laid stone foundations. These "macadam" roads were originally laid dry and rolled-in by passing traffic but this was replaced over time by water binding and eventually by mechanically rolling with tar binding (hence: tarmcadam, or tarmac, properly capitalised as it is a tradename). Modern "tarmac" roads are almost invariably bitumen-based asphalt or a bituminous macadam known as bitmac

1825

Richard Edgeworth refined McAdam's technique using stone dust mixed with water to fill the gaps between the surface stones, thus providing a much smoother surface for the increasing number of fancy carriages using the roads. This development made McAdam's name, although ironically he deprecated Edgeworth's more complex system

Victoria

1831	A Mr Hancock introduces the steam-powered coach; by 1932 the "Infant" steam coach transports people from Paddington to Regents Park and the City, fare 6d [1]
1836	Parliamentary Commission of Enquiry in 1836 reports "strongly in favour of steam carriages on roads" but most such traffic is tending to be transported by rail
1854	First tarmacadam road laid, in Paris
1861	Locomotive Act 1861: weight of steam engines restricted to 12 tonnes; speed limit 12mph
1865	The Locomotive Act 1865 (popularly known as the Red Flag Act) imposes a speed limit of 2mph in cities, towns and villages, and 4mph elsewhere. Also requires a pedestrian carrying a red flag in front of the vehicle at a distance of 60yds. The vehicle was required to have three drivers aboard it.
1878	The Locomotive Amendment Act 1878 made the red flag optional under local conditions and reduced the distance of the warning red flag to 20 yards.
1879	George B. Selden, a patent lawyer and inventor who never manufactured a motor vehicle, filed patent on a 'road engine'. The high speed internal combustion engine was yet to be invented, and Selden managed to keep the patent 'pending' for over 15 years--it issued as United States patent number 549,160 in 1895. He and his Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers (formed 1903) attempted to enforce a strict monopoly on motor manufacturing. Henry Ford (among others) infringed the patent, and in 1911 achieved a ruling which overturned the attempted monopoly.
1885	Sylvanus F Bowser invents the petrol delivery pump
1890	First cycle tracks constructed in the Netherlands
1894	The first motorcar to run on the British highway, a 2hp Benz Velo imported from Germany in November 1894 by Henry Hewetson at a cost of £80
1895	Pneumatic tyres introduced. There is some dispute as to exactly when they were invented: one R. W. Thompson took out a patent and demonstrated air filled tyres in December 1845 but they were difficult to fit and failed to gain popularity. In 1888 John Boyd Dunlop developed a pneumatic tyre for his child's bike and after some legal wrangling his 'Pneumatic Tyre Company' took the lead and by 1891 had supplied over 3000 tyres to the cycling industry. Under the Locomotives on the Highway Act, also known as "the emancipation act", vehicles under 3 tonnes were exempted from the requirement of the 1878 "red flag" Act and the speed limit was raised to 14mph: The annual London to Brighton Run commemorates this. (The first run took place in 1927) Selden's patent granted, giving him exclusive rights to make automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine Ocean Pathway bike path opens in New York State - said to be the oldest cyclepath in existence!
1896	Lights are now required along with some form of "audible warning" Every heavy locomotive has to be registered with the County or County Borough Council First speeding ticket issued. On 28 January. A Mr. Walter Arnold was fined one shilling (5p) for travelling at 8mph in a 2mph area First motoring fatality: Mrs Bridget Driscoll of Old Town, Croydon, run over by a Roger-Benz car at Crystal Palace, London on 17 August
1897	Automobile Club formed Bremen builds first German cycle paths, 2.5m wide in the centre of the road, to help cyclists avoid the discomfort of cobbled surface. First British driver to die from injuries sustained in a motoring accident: Mr Henry Lindfield of Brighton whose electrical carriage overturned on Saturday 12 February 1898. One of his legs was amputated, and he died of shock the following day. Autocar blamed the crash on excessive speed...
1899	A notable crash on 25 February 1899 at Grove Hill, Harrow. The driver, Mr Sewell, had been demonstrating the car, a Daimler Wagonette, to Major James Richer, Department Head at the Army & Navy Stores, with the view to a possible purchase for the company. Mr Sewell was killed on the spot, becoming the first driver of a petrol-driven car to die in an accident; Major Sewell died four days later without regaining consciousness, becoming Britain's first passenger fatality

Edward VII

1901	A Lloyd’s underwriter issues the first car accident claim motor insurance policy
1903	Motor Car Act 1903 required that all vehicles had to be registered, and to display registration marks in a prominent position. The fee was twenty shillings (£1). The first registration marks consisted of one letter and one number, the first (A1) was issued by London County Council. Driving licences introduced - obtained by paying a fee of five shillings (25p) across the counter at a Post Office. (At this time they were used merely for identification purposes.) First use of windscreens. These were made of ordinary glass and inflicted terrible injuries in accidents. Speed limit raised to 20mph with heavy fines for speeding and reckless driving. Henry Ford forms his company to manufacture automobiles.
1904	Guidelines on Traffic Signs. - Hollow white ring (speed limit); solid red disc (prohibition); hollow red triangle (caution); diamond (other). The Hon. Charles Rolls designs and road tests his new car, a two cylinder 20mph machine. There are 28,842 vehicles registered in Great Britain
1905	The Automobile Association was formed Vauxhall commences car production at Luton Sylvanus F. Bowser perfects his petrol pump and opens his "filling station", the first of its kind, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
1907	April 6: Ford Model T launched, the first care made using a moving production line system. First AA patrols go on duty on bicycles. Their primary duty was to warn motorists of police speed traps ahead. The Hon. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce combine their knowledge and expertise to produce the Rolls Royce, which quickly establishes prestige and a reputation for technical excellence. Automobile Club receives Royal patronage to become The Royal Automobile Club
1908	The Finance Act 1908 levied a tax of 3d on a gallon of petrol from April 1 1909 Full production of Model T Ford begins in USA. Rolls Royce factory opens in Derby.
1909	The Finance Act 1909-10 based vehicle taxation on the horsepower of the vehicle (RAC horsepower, calculated as D2 x n / 2.5 where D is cylinder diameter and n the number of cylinders) and stated that the revenue would be paid into a Road Fund, to be used for road improvements (this would pay up to half of the cost of some new roads). Petrol tax comes into force
1910	The Road Board was set up to administer grants paid to local authorities for road improvements. Its functions were taken over by the new Ministry of Transport in 1918. Road Fund Licences introduced. Charges were £2-10 for vehicles up to 6.5hp and £42 for 60hp Germany moves cycle tracks from centre to edges of roads and extends construction with the expressed intent of clearing the way for faster motor traffic. Planners cites "safety" but cyclists preferred to use the roads, which were now being surfaced with macadam; arguments ensued

George V

1911	Ford overturns Selden patent; Model T production comes to Britain (Manchester), again using mass production methods Cadillac fits the first electric starters after a family friend of founder Henry Leland is killed by a starting handle; they are manufactured by the Dayton Engineering Laboratories (later known as Delco)
1912	Morris produces a car to rival the Model T Ford. The Morris Oxford, a 1 litre, 2 seater priced at £175. Roadside telephone boxes introduced by the Automobile Association.
1914	August 4: Britain declares war on Germany Petrol pumps introduced, initially by the AA (previously fuel was only available in cans, usually of 2 gallons' capacity) First traffic lights installed in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
1916	London "Safety First" Council formed. It was involved in a whole range of road safety initiatives and was consulted by government committees. In 1941 it was granted a Royal warrant and changed its name to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)
1918	November 11: Great War ends
1919	Ministry of Transport set up, (replacing The Road Board) First three-colour traffic lights installed, in Detroit, Michigan, USA
1920	The Roads Act 1920 required Councils to register all vehicles at the time of licensing and to allocate a separate number to each vehicle The Act clarified the situation regarding cars drivven by internal copbustion engines - previously there had been a mess of rules intended for road engines, horse-drawn vehicles and other traffic. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes introduced in the US Quote from the Dutch Roads Congress: "After all, the construction of bicycle paths along the larger roads relieves traffic along these roads of an extremely bothersome element: the cyclist."
1921	Car Tax (Road Fund Licence) set at £1 per hp Petrol Tax abolished and replaced by excise duty Tax Discs introduced Registration Documents (Logbooks) introduced for British cars
1922	Austin Seven launched First electrically-synchronised traffic signals installed in Houston, Texas, USA
1923	The first roundabouts were developed to assist traffic movements at junctions
1924	First Motorway opened between Milan and Varese, Italy
1926	First use of safety glass in windscreens. (Compulsory from 1937) First traffic lights, in Piccadilly, London - they were maually controlled Use of cycle paths made compulsory in Germany
1927	Automatic traffic lights installed in Leeds and Wolverhampton First London to Brighton car run Single white lines were introduced as road dividers Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, opened
1928	Morris Minor production begins with prices starting at £125 First automatically controlled traffic lights, in Wolverhampton
1930	Road Traffic Act 1930 abolished the 20mph speed limit and set a variety of limits for different classes of vehicle. There was no speed limit for vehicles carrying less than seven persons A form of driving test for disabled drivers was introduced; this eventually leads to the (in)famous Invacar Minimum driving age set Proposed Highway Code Third Party Insurance becomes compulsory Just over 1 million cars on the road and 7,300 road deaths
1931	At the discretion of Traffic Commissioners, public service vehicle drivers could be required to take a test Highway Code published in April, cost 1d Morris Minor costs £100 for the basic model
1932	Ford sets up its' Dagenham car plant. (Moved from Manchester) Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia First pedestrian-operated street crossing lights installed on Brighton Road, Croydon, Surrey
1934	Road Traffic Act 1934. The Chief Commissioner introduced tests for drivers of heavy goods vehicles Driving test became compulsory, with testing commencing in 1935. The test fee was 10s (50p) Cat's Eyes invented by Percy Shaw of Halifax (UK) Hendon Driving School founded by Metropolitan Police Flashing orange globes at pedestrian crossings introduced. The bill to implement them was promoted by the then Minister of Transport, Leslie Hore-Belisha First cycle path constructed in Britain, along the Western Avenue. Cyclists forced to give way to motor traffic turning left across them New German legal instruments to address "the problem of disciplining cyclists" who did not use cycle tracks. Bicycle associations outlawed by Nazi regime 7,000 people killed as a result of road accidents and only 1,500,000 registered vehicles
1935	Driving tests commenced voluntarily on 13 March and are compulsory from 1 June 30mph speed limit re-introduced in urban areas First Provisional Driving Licences introduced. They lasted for three months and drivers were required to display 'L' plates on their vehicle First use of windscreen wipers, initially often powered by vacuum bleed from the inlet manifold, which made for an "interesting" variation with engine speed Highway code revised

Edward VIII

1936	Trunk Roads Act transfers responsibility for main roads from local authorities to Ministry of Transport Chancellor of the Exchecquer Winston Churchill winds up the Road fund, bringing to an end hypothecated road taxation

George VI

1937	Dipped headlights introduced Safety glass for windscreens and speedometers made compulsory
1938	Morris Series E Saloon launched. This 8hp car was the cheapest in Britain costing £128.
1939	World War II starts September 3 Driving tests suspended on September 2 due to impending war Petrol rationing introduced allowing about 200 miles of motoring per month for each motorist Two million cars on Britain's roads Road deaths totaled 8,272, the increase probably being due to the blackout Insurers complain that the incidence of car accident injury claim cases continues to increase, placing a strain on their resources
1940	20mph speed limit in darkness introduced to attempt to combat the high incidence of road accidents Introduction of British Summer Time, partly due to the road death toll Road signs removed due to the threat of enemy invasion Under occupation, use of cycle paths becomes compulsory in the Netherlands
1941	RoSPA formed 9,169 road deaths including 4,781 pedestrians. This is 38% higher than the immediate pre-war figure despite their being under half as many cars on the road
1942	Kerb Drill launched
1944	Volvo introduce a safety cage on volume production cars
1945	Henry Ford resigns as president of The Ford Motor Company
1946	Driving tests reintroduced 1 November Triumph 1800 introduced with American-style steering column gearshift
1947	A period of one year was granted for holders of wartime provisional licences to convert to a full licence, without having to take a test RAC/ACU (Auto Cycle Union, trivia fans) Motorcycle Training Scheme launched
1948	Flat rate car tax set at £10 per car
1949	The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) was formed with the aim of raising driving standards by offering an Advanced Driving Test
1950	Seatbelts fitted for first time to Nash Rambler, intended to prevent sleeping passengers from falling out of their seats Petrol rationing ends
1951	Zebra Crossings introduced - the first one is in Slough

Elizabeth II

1953	Radial Ply tyres introduced
1954	Highway Code revised Flashing indicators on cars become legal The first British diesel engined private car was a version of the Standard Vanguard Phase II
1955	League of Safe Drivers Formed - amalgamated with RoSPA in 1980 to become the RoSPA Advanced Drivers Association
1956	Driving tests suspended on 24 November due to the Suez crisis and anyone who had held a driving licence for one month during the crisis was allowed to drive unaccompanied The Institute of Advanced Motorists introduced the Advanced Driving Test Petrol rationing introduced in December
1957	Compulsory driver testing resumed on April 15 The three-year driving licence was introduced in September Petrol rationing ends in March
1958	The six-month provisional licence was introduced in March Britain's first motorway, The Preston by-pass opens. Costing £4m to build and 8.5 miles in length, it is now part of the M6 Parking meters introduced. The first were installed outside the American Embassy in London on 10 July
1959	The BMC Mini goes on sale, price of £500 Ford Anglia (105E) rolls out at Dagenham M1 motorway is opened by Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport on 2 November. The first section ran for 72 miles from St Albans to Birmingham and cost £50M to build (£10 for every car on Britain's roads!). The section from St Albans (Park Street Roundabout) to Hemel Hempstead was later bypassed and became the M10; it was from this road that a Clueless Woman came as close as has ever been achieved thus far to depriving the world of the dubious benefit of my presence - the compensation bought me my first decent bike, a Dawes Super Galaxy Double white lines introduced as road dividers Hammersmith flyover in London built at a cost of £1.3m Number of cars on British roads exceeds five million
1960	MOT test introduced for vehicles over 10 years old covering brakes, lights and steering Learner motorcyclists restricted to machines under 250cc Traffic Wardens appear on the streets of London
1961	Highway Code revised 10 million vehicles on British roads and 350,000 casualties in total The Tufty Club is formed. Bob Davis is not happy: the mutant squirrel teaches the next generation of drivers that the car must always be deferred to Automated multi-story car parks open in London The first self-service fuel station opens, at Southwark Bridge, London E Type Jaguar launched
1962	Voluntary Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) passed by Parliament Panda Crossings introduced (a forerunner to the pelican crossing, a traffic-light controlled crossing with pedestrian push-button actuation) Commercial Vehicle test inaugurated Valid MOT certificate now needed in order to obtain tax disc Ford Cortina launched
1963	Warboys Report proposes present day (continental style) traffic signs Automatic disqualification now mandatory for anyone with three driving licence endorsements in a three year period Number plates with alphabetic suffix introduced starting with 'A' in January Dartford Tunnel opened in November at a cost of £13M. (see second tunnel 1980) Three London streets pedestrianized on an experimental basis
1964	Box junctions marked with yellow cross-hatching introduced in London Forth road bridge opened by The Queen Vauxhall produces Viva (HA) at its Ellesmere Port factory
1965	Temporary 70mph speed limit introduced on unrestricted roads. (including motorways). 50 mph speed limits were introduced on certain rural trunk roads in Britain in an attempt to reduce accidents Continental type traffic signs introduced 'Halt' sign replaced by 'Stop' Severn Bridge opens Mont Blanc Tunnel links Italy with France Brake stop lamps were made compulsory in the UK All new cars must have flashing turn indicators from 1st September Personal injury claim settlements due to road accidents reach 398,000
1966	Give Way rule introduced for roundabouts
1967	Ministry of Transport issue "Road Safety - A Fresh Approach", a Paper proposing a wide range of measures to reduce the number of injuries Drink Drive laws come into force in UK on October 8, with a limit of 80mg alcohol in 100ml blood Seat belts compulsory in new cars registered after 1 April Annual MOT test for all cars over three years old, replaces the ten year requirement introduced in 1960 Number plate suffix change moves to August each year to boost new car sales
1968	Highway Code revised and enlarged New tyre tread regulations require 1mm of tread across three-quarters of its width. Tyre checks added to MOT test
1969	A separate driving licence group was established for vehicles with automatic transmission Pelican Crossings introduced
1970	HGV driving test becomes compulsory Register of Approved Driving Instructors comes into force 15 million vehicles on British roads
1971	Green Cross Code introduced Zig Zag markings introduced at Zebra Crossings
1972	16-year-olds restricted to riding mopeds with maximum capacity of 50cc Graveley Hill Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) near Birmingham opens; denounced at the time as dangerous, it proves remarkably safe, but locals soon learn its intricacies and their collision rate rises - evidence for risk compensation
1973	Temporary 50mph national speed limit imposed to reduce fuel consumption. (Due to Israel/Egypt war) VASCAR speed detection equipment used for the first time Reflective number plates made compulsory on all vehicles Computerized driving licences issued Crash helmets are made compulsory for riders of powered two wheeled vehicles; motorcyclist fatality rate rises compared with other road users in the following years Multi-tone car horns banned
1974	Road Traffic Act 1974 First airbags fitted to production cars
1975	Front number plates on motorcycles abolished Legislation requiring vehicles to be lit in the daytime in conditions of seriously reduced visibility York bypass opened by The Archbishop of York
1976	Mini-roundabouts are introduced to speed trtaffic flow at uncontrolled junctions
1977	Mopeds re-defined to a maximum speed of 30mph MOT test now includes windscreen washers, wipers, indicators, spotlights, horn, body structure and exhaust systems Ford launches the Fiesta
1978	Highway Code revised Mandatory fitting of rear fog lamps to most vehicles manufactured after 1/10/1979 60mph National speed limit introduced and 70mph motorway speed limit made permanent
1980	BL launch the Metro RoSPA Advanced Drivers Association set up Second Dartford Tunnel opened in May at a cost of £45M, having taken eight years to build Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety (PACTS) set up
1981	Minimum age for driving an invalid car reduced to 16yrs Humber Bridge opened CB radio legalized in Great Britain
1982	Two part motorcycle test introduced Points system replaces the totting up of driving licence endorsements; collection of 12 or more points in three years results in disqualification
1983	Drivers and front seat passengers in cars and light vans must wear seat belts; Isles Report shows that this sill have no overall effect. Largest recorded rise in pedestrian, cyclist and rear passenger fatalities follows Learner motorcyclists restricted to machines of no more than 125cc First road hump regulations made MOT test for taxis and vehicles with more than eight passenger seats reduced to vehicles over one year old Q plate introduced for vehicles of indeterminable age, a response to increasing fradulent use of old log books to obtain valuable registration marks Over 20 million vehicles on British roads. The casualty toll has fallen to 309,000
1984	Lorries and trailers to be fitted with spray reducing devices
1985	Sinclair C5 launched Car phones introduced
1986	European Year of Road Safety Fixed penalty fines for minor motoring offences introduced M25 "completed" (sort of!) Unleaded petrol goes on sale Work commences on Channel Tunnel
1987	All cars have rear seat belts fitted at point of manufacture in UK Zig Zag markings extended to Pelican Crossings
1988	All coaches first used from 1974 to have 70mph speed limiters fitted by April 1992 (updated regulations 1994) All new cars manufactured after 1 April are required to run on unleaded petrol
1989	Children travelling in cars must wear seat belts/approved restraints where fitted A tougher accompanied motorcycle 'L' test is introduced Wheel clamping introduced in London
1990	Driving Standards Agency created by the Department of Transport New regulations require that those accompanying learner drivers must have held a full driving licence for at least three years and are 21 years old or over 'Compulsory Basic Training' (CBT) for motorcyclists introduced Learner motorcycle riders prohibited from carrying pillion passengers Children's Traffic Club formed
1991	All rear seat passengers must wear seat belts where fitted 20mph zones introduced to reduce accidents in busy urban areas White chevrons painted on the M1 motorway to encourage drivers to keep their distance Dartford (Queen Elizabeth) Bridge is opened in October. It took three years to build and cost £86M Petrol prices soar as a result of the Gulf War MOT test to include petrol emissions, anti-lock braking and rear seat belts
1992	Speed enforcement cameras introduced at permanent sites All new goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes to be fitted with 60mph limiters Minimum tyre tread depth of 1.6mm is introduced Catalytic converters fitted to all new petrol engined cars Toyota comes to Britain, producing cars in Derbyshire
1993	Highway Code revised Greater use of red light and speed cameras planned First trials of Puffin Crossing, which incorporates developments such as red/green man infdicators positioned to allow the [pedestrian to see both them and approaching traffic at the same time, and sensors to extend the red-light time if the crossing is not clear (e.g. slow-moving pedestrians) MOT test extended to cover many smaller items including rear fog lamps, registration plates and mirrors
1994	Bus and coach speeds limited to 65mph and HGVs to 56mph Channel Tunnel opens to passengers MOT test includes diesel emissions
1996	Introduction of The Driving Theory Test. Drivers must now pass this written test of knowledge before they are able to take the practical test of driving competence
1997	Fitting of seat belts and restraints in minibuses and coaches used to transport children made compulsory 3,599 people were killed, 42,967 were seriously injured and 327,544 were slightly injured on Great Britain's roads
1998	The Newbury bypass opens. Security during the building of this controversial road cost £30m
1999	Highway Code revised and updated White Paper issued by HM Government "A New Deal for Transport - Better for Everyone" Vehicle excise duty for a car/van with an engine capacity of 1100cc or less, reduced to £100 per year (from £155) New bus lane on M4 motorway opened (between Heathrow Airport and London) at a cost of £1.9m From 1 July all driving licences issued of the photo card type
2000	DFT publish it's strategy for reducing road accident casualties over the next ten years in it's report "Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone" BMW sells the Rover Car Company to a Management Consortium Ford announces that it is to cease car production at it's Dagenham plant after 68 years The National Cycle Network is officially opened HGV drivers and farmers stage protests at oil refineries throughout the UK. Panic buying leads to petrol stations running out of fuel; the country grinds to a standstill - or not... General Motors announce that they intend to close the Vauxhall car plant in Luton with the loss of 2,000 jobs DfT, in conjunction with The Home Office and The Lord Chancellor's Office publish consultation paper "Road Traffic Penalties"
2001	Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel goes on sale Number plate system completely revised: two letters to denote region, two numbers for year, three letters for uniqueness.
2002	Car production at Vauxhall's Luton plant ceased after 97 years AA roadside phone boxes scrapped; a small number of wooden "sentry" boxes are retained as they have listed status
2003	Congestion charging introduced in London. A victim of its own success: so many drivers switched to public transport and cycling that the charge raised less money than hoped From 1 December, use of handheld mobile phones banned. Research shows that using a mobile, even hands-free, has an equivalent effect on driving to that of being over the legal blood alcohol limit Britain's first toll motorway opened, the M6 relief road
2004	Jaguar ceases car production in Coventry Congestion charging rejected in Edinburgh
2005	Rover Group bankrupt