The Highway Code Throughout History
Jun 24th, 2009 by Johann Ken Flanders
Whether you drive or not, we are all considered road users, whether we are drivers, cyclists, horse rider or pedestrians. The Highway Code is generally seen by everyone as the set of guidelines and laws that determine the correct way to behave on a road.
Back in 1930 there were only around two million motor cars on the roads, and in that year alone there were well over 7000 deaths by road accidents. Which is really, a staggeringly high number of deaths, considering there were well over 20 million motor vehicles on the road in 2004 and only around 3000 deaths.
The government of the 30’s obviously wanted to do something about this, so the Highway Code was created. This original version was 24 pages long and contained advice about driving a horse and carriage. So you can see, the Code has had many changes made to it over the years.
This original version contained no reference to driving under the influence of alcohol or fatigue, contained nothing on braking distances and no road signs. In fact, of the mere fifteen road signs that were published in the second edition (1946), we only use two of them to this date.
Stopping distances however, did not get a mention until the edition that came out in 1954, along with a further sixteen road signs, bringing the total number to 31. When compared with today’s 170, its interesting to think what new signs might become commonplace on our roads in another sixty years.
The first version to include photographs and 3D images was the sixth version which came out in 1968, and these images were used to show braking distances. It also introduced the orange badges for disabled people and gave the Green Cross Code to pedestrians.
The Code was updated in the 90’s to include informational guidelines to new drivers about passing their theory test. This information was subsequently included in the code itself.
The Highway Code has been adapted over the 78 years that it has been with us to become the comprehensive book on road advice, guidelines and law. One of the newest of which being the fact that you cannot use mobile phones while driving, and considering mobile phones weren’t invented when the Code was originally brought out, it just shows how the laws of the road have adapted and changed with society.
