The history of the stop sign
Have you ever wondered why a stop sign is red or why it's shaped like an octagon? To help keep you safe, the stop sign has evolved over the years to a design that gets your attention more easily so you can react more quickly. Here are some facts about the history of the stop sign.
When was the first stop sign installed in the U.S.?
The first stop signs were posted in Michigan in 1915, says the Manual of Traffic Signs. Originally, they were square-shaped, measuring 2 feet by 2 feet and featured black letters on a yellow background, according to Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
What shape is a stop sign?
The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) saw a few key advantages to giving the stop sign its unique shape, an octagon. First, the octagonal shape makes it easy for drivers traveling in the opposite direction to recognize the sign from the back, which helps prevent confusion at intersections, according to Reader's Digest. Second, since the original stop signs weren't reflective, the AASHO needed a design that could be easily recognizable at night.
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get a quoteStop signs encourage safe drivers
Stops signs have done a lot to prevent all kinds of hard-stopping, rear-ending and T-boning. They help drivers navigate busy intersections and encourage safe driving.
If you always abide stop signs, yield to pedestrians, and keep your eyes on the road, you may be less likely to get in an accident.
What are stop signs like today
Today's stop sign stands approximately 7 feet off the ground in urban areas and 5 feet off the ground in rural locations, according to Cornell University. Stop signs are also retroreflective, which means that if your headlights shine on them, light will be reflected back toward you.
Stop signs encourage safe drivers
Stops signs have done a lot to prevent all kinds of hard-stopping, rear-ending and T-boning. They help drivers navigate busy intersections and encourage safe driving.
If you always abide stop signs, yield to pedestrians, and keep your eyes on the road, you may be less likely to get in an accident.