Road signs in France

[4] When cars started appearing in France in the 1900s, there were signs for motorists and cyclists with the words "Moderate Speed" or "Slow Down".

On 11 October 1909, the first attempt at international unification of road signs was made in Geneva.

Four round-shaped obstacle signs were adopted: "break", "Z-bends", "Level crossing with barrier" and "X-crossing".

On 15 July 1942, during the occupation of French territories by Nazi Germany in World War II, a decree was signed amending the traffic rules: a sheet was to be placed around danger signs and the colour of the vignettes (previously dark blue) was to become black, as was the German custom.

[5] After the end of the war, a general instruction dated 1 August 1946 on road signs was published.