Draft Convention on Road Signs and Signals
Note: When moved, this page should be renamed to "1953 Draft Convention on Road Signs and Signals". EthanL13[please ping me]
The 1953 Draft Convention on Road Signs and Signals, also known simply as the 1953 Draft Convention,[1][2] and later known as the Protocol on a Uniform System of Road Signs and Signals,[3] was a proposed UN convention which aimed to promote uniformity and standardisation among traffic signs across the world.
The 1953 Draft Convention was preceded by the 1949 Geneva Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, and was superseded by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.
The convention would have, most notably, stipulated the use of a yellow diamond for warning signs.
- Not immediately accepted for the most part by several European countries
- Primarily due to the 1949 Protocol (Geneva)
Background
- Need to update obsolete 1931 Convention concerning the Unification of Road Signs.
Desire was expressed at the United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport, held in Geneva in 1949, for an international uniform system of road signage. However, attendees were unable to come to an agreement regarding this, and therefore decided to establish the Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, in the hopes that an agreement could be determined at a later stage.[4][5]
A Group of Experts on Road Signs and Signals was subsequently established by the UN Secretary-General, consisting of six members from the countries of Chile, France, India, Southern Rhodesia, Turkey and the United States,[6] and the Transport and Communications Commission, working under the United Nations Economic and Social Council, was entrusted to oversee their work.[7] The Group of Experts submitted their final report in July 1952.[8] Upon approval by the Transport and Communications Commission, the draft convention became known as the Protocol on a Uniform System of Road Signs and Signals, and the Secretary-General was requested to inform the relevant governments of the report and to open the Protocol for signature.[9]
Findings
In their initial[10] and final reports, the Group of Experts identified the various signage systems in use worldwide.
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The Group of Experts mandated the use of a yellow diamond for warning signs...
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...but allowed other formats as a transitional measure -
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Outcome
- Largely rejected for various reasons. Many states cited the recent adoption and implementation of the 1949 Protocol, others cited cost.
- Transport and Communications Commission dissolved
Adoption
Although never finalised, the draft convention or parts thereof were adopted by a number of countries.
- Adopted by Brazil in 1966[11]
- Adopted by Chile, 3rd July 1953[12] (see pg. 45)
- Adopted by Ireland in 1956[13]
- Central America[1]
References
- https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63539815
- https://proceedings-paris2007.piarc.org/mirrors/data/files/5/HS028-Nouvier-E.pdf
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1969/299/299-001.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ↑ Committee on traffic signs for all-purpose roads (Worboys Committee); Ministry of Transport (1963). "Traffic signs: report of the committee on traffic signs for all-purpose roads". Archive.org. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/228970?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1485174?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/sim_institute-of-transportation-engineers-ite-journal_1951-07_21_10_0/page/n8/mode/1up
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3859447?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/212443?ln=en&v=pdf Resolution 272 (X)
- ↑ Final report submitted by the Group of Experts on Road Signs and Signals to the 6th session of the Transport and Communications Commission. New York: United Nations. 22 July 1952. Search this book on
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/799348?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3859447?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ https://www2.camara.leg.br/legin/fed/lei/1960-1969/lei-5108-21-setembro-1966-368929-publicacaooriginal-37246-pl.html
- ↑ https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/823902?ln=en&v=pdf
- ↑ Report 1956–1957 (PDF). Department of Local Government. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 19 June 2025. Search this book on
External links
- Symbols created by the Group of Experts on Road Signs and Signals for use on warning (danger) signs
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