🚸 Why do road signs use pictures?

Look out the window! On this highway, signs stand by the lanes and hang high above us. Traffic signs tell drivers what to do and where to go. But why do so many of them use pictures instead of words? The very first road signs were plain stones and wooden posts. Some had wooden arms pointing the way, like a finger saying, this way to town! They worked fine when people traveled slowly and stayed close to home.

Then came more and more cars. Imagine a traveler driving into a brand-new country. People there speak a different language. The traveler sees a sign full of words and can't read a single one! Does it say turn left, or does it say free puppies? Nobody knows! So picture signs were developed in Europe.

A picture of a person walking means people cross here. A picture of a deer means animals might be on the road. Many of these pictures are simple dark shapes, like a shadow, so they're quick to spot. A picture means the same thing in any language, because everyone knows what a deer looks like. Now most countries around the world use picture signs too. Count how many picture signs you see on this road. They help every driver, from anywhere.