Sign posts are the cornerstones of signs. They are of standard height and weight, just as signs are legally standardized. It would be difficult to drive without standardization in such areas. If some towns had round blue stop signs two feet off the ground, and other towns had purple triangles of stone, neither would be readily identifiable to drivers. Foreign drivers who can't necessarily read the language of a given country would have trouble as well. When most people see a red octagonal sign posted ten feet above the ground, however, they can be pretty sure what it means no matter what is written on it.

Romans Brought the Roads

The history of roads dates back to Roman Times. Road signs followed shortly. There have been many improvements made to both through time. The original road signs were milestones marking how far a traveler was from Rome. These were often massive and statuesque, and made of marble or granite.

Roads have gone from dirt to rock to gravel to asphalt. Roads are engineered to be slightly higher in the center in order to drain water off quickly. Wet roads can be highly dangerous. Some moisture is unavoidable, but too much is difficult to navigate.

Importance of Sign Posts

Sign posts serve to ground the sign. They must withstand not only the elements, but also human destruction. Cars have been known to knock down a sign or two, certainly, and nothing in the street is safe from graffiti. This is why sign posts are standardized and made of hard, durable steel.