The degraded image currently in use (left) and the newly restored one (right) - click to enlarge

Among the many signs and symbols that Margaret Calvert, OBE produced in 1960s when working with the late Jock Kinneir on the current UK system of traffic signs, was a pictogram to warn drivers to look out for children crossing or using the road ahead.  This sign formed part of a system that was designed meticulously to meet modern standards, and which has won design awards and been copied the world over.

But this particular sign had degraded over time – the result of being manually copied several times between different drawings and computer-based formats.  Margaret comments: “This was one of my favourite signs, being based upon myself as a child. But I always shuddered to see recent examples on street, displaying such a travesty of my carefully crafted original. I was therefore delighted to work again on my design from 1962, and found that there were some subtle improvements I could make.”

Simon Morgan of Buchanan Computing, takes up the story: “I had been aware for some time of this issue and suggested that the Department for Transport could use the opportunity afforded by the introduction of new traffic signs regulations and mark the 50th anniversary of our current signing system by restoring this image.  They were very supportive of this proposal, and it was a great privilege to work with Margaret on translating her latest fine tuning of the pictogram into the necessary computer formats and to facilitate liaison with DfT.  Our involvement is in supplying a software package, SignPlot, used for the design and manufacture of a large proportion of the UK’s traffic signs. We were therefore able to ensure that sign manufacturers had an accurate version of the new image a week before the new regulations came into effect.”

« List all news stories for year 2016

 Request more information
or a callback

 Subscribe to our newsletter