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1920 |
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New York City's Deputy Chief Inspector of Police proposes a universal system of
arrow-shaped road signs, reflecting a mounting concern around the country for road
sign standards and their impact on road safety. |
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1927 |
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The first transatlantic telephone call is made from New York to London. |
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1939 |
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Harry Heltzer designs the first retroreflective tape, using small glass beads to
increase the reflectivity of the center striping on highways at night.
When he couldn't make his reflective tape stick to the road in cold weather, he
adapted it to be used on road signs. On September 1, the first sign with 3M ScotchliteTM
Reflective sheeting was erected on a Minneapolis street. |
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1940 |
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The United States' first freeway, the Arroyo Seco, is built, connecting downtown
Los Angeles with Pasadena. The limited access and toll-free highway is now known
as Highway 110. |
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1944 |
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3M researchers develop new beads that reflect more light and are more weather resistant.
These beads are still used today in reflective fabric and bicycle tires. |
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1945 |
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ENIAC, the first all-purpose, all-electronic digital computer, is developed. Filling
an entire room, the ENIAC was the father of modern computer technology. |
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1946 |
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CenterLite pavement marking material is introduced. |
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1947 |
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Prismo Safety Corporation develops the Prismo Life-Line, the most reflective and
longest lasting highway center line available on the market. |
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1948 |
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Engineer Grade sheeting is produced at the 3M Cottage Grove facility, making it
possible to apply lettering and weather-resistant transparent inks to reflective
signs. |
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1954 |
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Sales of 3M Engineer Grade Reflective Sheeting soar, and a new plant in Guin Alabama
is built to manufacture 3M Reflective Sheeting. In later years, additional plants
were built worldwide. |
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1956 |
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President Eisenhower signs the Federal-Aid Highway Act, further funding the interstate
program. The act effectively rejuvenates the interstate system, which was recovering
from the debilitating effects of the Great Depression and World War II. |
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1956 |
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Highway engineers, working to expand the interstate system, haphazardly design the
font Highway Gothic to be used as the standard font for signs across the country. |
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1958 |
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The laser is invented. In addition to increasing the opportunities for barcode use,
the laser has made significant contributions to nearly every industry, from medical
to manufacturing. |
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1960 |
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GreenLite pavement marking material is introduced. |
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1964 |
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All four major US automobile manufacturers agree to make dual front-seat belts standard
equipment. |
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1965 |
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Scotch-Lane reflective and non-reflective pavement marking materials and application
equipment are introduced. |
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1966 |
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The Department of Transportation is established, providing quick and accessible
transportation for the growing nation. |
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1970 |
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A new, whiter glass bead is developed, which can be made with 30% less energy. |
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1971 |
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3M High Intensity Grade Reflective Sheeting sets a new standard with increased durability
and three times the brightness of previous sheeting. |
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1973 |
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The first call from a cellular phone is made. While cell phones were not available
to consumers until 1983, the first call made headlines and shocked people around
the country. By 1999, there were an astonishing 86.1 million subscribers to cell
phone services.
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1976 |
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Stamark Pavement Markings set the standard in pavement markings, achieving significantly
higher levels of brightness and durability. |
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1980 |
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3M develops and markets a full line of reflective signs and pavement marking products
for the work zone. |
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1986 |
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Stamark patterned pavement marking tape is introduced. |
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1986 |
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Raised pavement markings are introduced. |
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1988 |
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Market testing for 3M Diamond Grade Reflective Sheeting begins. Its microcube corners
reflect a significantly higher percentage of light than previous reflective sheeting. |
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1989 |
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Durable Fluorescent technology is introduced, using fluorescent orange in work zones. |
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1992 |
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3M introduces Durable fluorescent yellow green non-motorized crossing signs.
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1993 |
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The United States Congress passes legislation that proposes establishing a "standard
for the minimum level of retroreflectivity that must be maintained for traffic signs
and pavement markings." |
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1993 |
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Global Positioning Systems (GPS's) are invented, allowing a person to pinpoint his
or her exact location on earth via a network of orbiting satellites. |
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1994 |
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3M introduces Diamond Grade Visual Impact Performance (VIP) sheeting; the industries
only type IV reflective sheeting. |
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1999 |
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New, highly-reflective microcrystalline ceramic beads are used in highway marking
paint, making it three times brighter than conventional markings. |
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2004 |
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The Federal Highway Administration grants Clearview, a newly designed font, approval
to be used on road signs across the country. Tests of Clearview (on the left) show
enhanced legibility. |
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2008 |
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The Federal Highway Administration's Minimum Levels of Retroreflectivity for traffic
signs goes into effect, giving agencies seven years to replace regulatory, warning,
and ground-mounted sings, and ten years to replace street name signs and overhead
signs. Standards specify that parking signs, in almost all cases, must be reflective. |
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2010 |
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Updated RoadTrafficSigns.com is launched. It is the first completely searchable
and comprehensive database of Road signs that can be ordered online by municipal,
governmental and private property customers. Find over 5,000 different designs and
materials. |
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