Finger post directional signs Manchester City centre with Hilton hotel in background
A fingerpost is a traditional type of sign post in the United Kingdom and Ireland,[1] consisting of a post with one or more arms – known as fingers – pointing in the direction of travel to places named on the fingers. The posts have traditionally been made from cast iron or wood, with poles painted in black, white or grey and fingers with black letters on a white background, often including distance information in miles. In most cases, they are used to give guidance for road users, but examples also exist on the canal network, for instance. Legislation was enacted in England in 1697 which enabled magistrates to place direction posts at cross-highways. The Highways Act 1766 and Turnpike Roads Act 1773 made use of fingerposts on turnpike roads compulsory. Fingerposts were also used in Europe, for example in the Electorate of Saxony they were a precursor to the Saxon post milestones. The Motor Car Act 1903 passed road sign responsibilities to the relevant highway authority, although no specifications were set. Guidance was given in a 1921 circular that road direction signs should have 2 1⁄2-or-3-inch-high (64 or 76 mm) upper case lettering on a white background and white supporting poles. It also recommended that the name of the highway authority be included somewhere in the design. Mandatory standards (The Traffic Signs (Size, Colour and Type) Provisional Regulations) were passed in 1933 which required poles to painted with black and white bands and lettering to be of a different typeface. Signposts were removed during World War II, lest enemy forces use them for navigation, and replaced in the late 1940s. Road signing was next comprehensively reviewed from 1961 by the government-appointed Worboys Committee and the 1964 Traffic Signs Regulations brought in the signing system largely remaining in force today. Whilst the 1964 regulations did encourage local authorities to remove and replace traditional fingerposts with the new designs.
Size: 3413px × 5120px
Photo credit: © Cernan Elias / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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