Stop Signs

Stop signs weren’t always the red octagon-shaped signs that we know today. The first stop signs were installed in Detroit, Michigan in 1915, a year after the first electric stoplight was installed, and were square, 2ft by 2ft, with black lettering on a white background. It was in 1935 that the Joint Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices published the MUTCD which designated octagons as the official stop sign shape. An octagon was chosen because it was easily recognizable from the back and at night which resulted in less confusion at intersections. Finally, in 1954, stop signs were given their bright red coloring, a change made to keep consistent with stoplights which were red since the first one was installed.


Sources: bartush.com

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