This is not concerning metric road signs, but it is related because it concerns the standardization of road signs between countries.
In California, signals for pedestrians at crosswalks have traditionally been labelled with the words "walk" and "don't walk". When you can cross the street, a white WALK appears. It soon becomes a flashing red DON'T WALK and then it stops flashing.
Recently, I have seen an ever-increasing number of graphical signals instead, with a white man for walk and a red hand for don't walk. This is very much similar to signals in many other countries I have visited.
Is there some law behind this change? Does anyone have any relevant information?

We also have red men (persons) for 'don't walk', but we have green men (persons) for 'walk'

Red and green people are common throughout Europe. They are multi-lingual. The words "WALK" and "DON'T WALK" are mon-lingual.

The signs in Germany had an addiitonal message which translated to "Set an example to the children".

Furthermore, the red men are standing to attention and the green men are walking.

Bud,
For the US, the MUTCD controls. The upright hand and walking man are required for new signs, older WALK/DON"T WALK may live out their useful lives. I don't think there is an international law, but we adopt good ideas from elsewhere.
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/HTM/2003r1/part4/part4e.htm

<<....
Section 4E.04 Size, Design, and Illumination of Pedestrian Signal Head Indications
Standard:
All new pedestrian signal head indications shall be displayed within a rectangular background and shall consist of symbolized messages (see Figure 4E-1), except that existing pedestrian signal head indications with lettered or outline style symbol messages may be retained for the remainder of their useful service life. The symbol designs that are set forth in the "Standard Highway Signs" book shall be used. Each pedestrian signal head indication shall be independently illuminated and emit a single color..

The UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal section shall be mounted directly above or integral with the WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal section.

The WALKING PERSON (symbolizing WALK) signal indication shall be white, conforming to the publication entitled "Pedestrian Traffic Control Signal Indications" (see Section 1A.11), with all except the symbol obscured by an opaque material.

The UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DONT WALK) signal indication shall be Portland orange, conforming to the publication entitled "Pedestrian Traffic Control Signal Indications" (see Section 1A.11), with all except the symbol obscured by an opaque material...

For pedestrian signal head indications, the symbols shall be at least 150 mm (6 in) high. . . .>>

When traffic lights change in the UK, they go from Red - to Red AND amber and then green.

However on Jersey they do it "european"* - i.e. Red then straight to Green.

When the Germans occupied the only part of the British Isles (Jersey) during the war they made the people drive on the right. I wonder if the "lights thing" is an overhang of that.

Except (and Ironically):-

*Some german traffic lights do the Red/Amber thing.


Gosh - with all these differences in traffic light sequencing you'd think that some overpaid jobsworth in the EU would have "harmonized" it by now!

They could in fact get some harmonisation within the UK. If the UK unilateraly set some standards that were by and large compatible wioth the rest of Europe (EU, EFTA etc), then there is a good chance that the UK regulations would be adopted lock, stock and barrel (and without any publicity).

Right-o - I'll have a bash at driving on the left next time I go to Italy then.

;-)

(I pick italy becasue they tend to drive on the side of the road that's convenient at the time)

I spent ten months working in Italy, three in Naples and seven in Rome. Nothing will surprise me on Italian roads.

1. In Naples is is common for moped to tarvel at night without lights. No, not just lights switched off - no lights on the vehicle at all, just a few wires dangling out of the vehicel frame.

2. Close to Pompei, I saw a motorist who took to heart the advice not to use a mobile phone while driving. He stopped in the right-hand (what loosly passes as the slow) lane, got out of his car and was seen standing on the motorway in front of his car finishing off his conversation.

3. At about 21:00 on evening in a village outside Rome, I noticed that a car was driving [slowly] without its headlights on. I pointed at the headlights. The driver stopped, so i tapped the headlights. He did not seem to understand.

That'l be the Pinot Grigio then!

<<
For the US, the MUTCD controls. The upright hand and walking man are required for new signs, older WALK/DON"T WALK may live out their useful lives. I don't think there is an international law, but we adopt good ideas from elsewhere.
>>

I thought the MUTCD was voluntary. As far as I know, only the District of Columbia and federal lands are bound by it; states are free to adopt whatever portions of it they wish. Some states use it entirely, some states use it with their own supplements, and some use their own signage manuals.
But I would imagine that most if not all states have adopted the international figures.

Actually I'm surprised the politically correct brigade haven't jumped on this and demaded representation of disabled people.

Still, at least the two blokes are different colours.




Did I say "bloke"?

<< I thought the MUTCD was voluntary. As far as I know, only the District of Columbia and federal lands are bound by it; states are free to adopt whatever portions of it they wish. Some states use it entirely, some states use it with their own supplements, and some use their own signage manuals.
But I would imagine that most if not all states have adopted the international figures.
>>

Link to the law (on one of the MUTCD pages)
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/texts/23cfr655.htm

As a minimum, areas must comply if any Federal funds are required. Some parts sound more compulsary. On state-funded, it appears FHWA has to approve their mods to MUTCD, but there is an avenue (pardon the pun).

I see little expression of "this is just voluntary document, conform if you feel like it."

<<
Sec. 655.603 Standards.

(a) National MUTCD. The MUTCD approved by the Federal Highway
Administrator is the national standard for all traffic control devices
installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel
in accordance with 23 U.S.C 109(d) and 402(a). The national MUTCD is
specifically approved by the FHWA for application on any highway project
in which Federal highway funds participate and on projects in federally
administered areas where a Federal department or agency controls the
highway or supervises the traffic operations.
(b) State or other Federal MUTCD. (1) Where State or other Federal
agency MUTCDs or supplements are required, they shall be in substantial
conformance with the national MUTCD. Changes to the national MUTCD
issued by the FHWA shall be adopted by the States or other Federal
agencies within 2 years of issuance. The FHWA Division Administrators
shall approve the State MUTCDs and supplements that are in substantial
conformance with the national MUTCD.
. . .
(d) Compliance--
(1) Existing highways. Each State, in cooperation
with its political subdivisions, and Federal agency shall have a program
as required by 23 U.S.C. 402(a), which shall include provisions for the systematic upgrading of substandard traffic control devices and for the
installation of needed devices to achieve conformity with the MUTCD.
(2) New or reconstructed highways. Federal-aid projects for the
construction, reconstruction, resurfacing, restoration, or
rehabilitation of streets and highways shall not be opened to the public
for unrestricted use until all appropriate traffic control devices,
either temporary or permanent, are installed and functioning properly.
Both temporary and permanent devices shall conform to the MUTCD.
(3) Construction area activities. All traffic control devices
installed in construction areas using Federal-aid funds shall conform to
the MUTCD. Traffic control plans for handling traffic and pedestrians in
construction zones and for protection of workers shall conform to the
requirements of 23 CFR part 630, subpart J, Traffic Safety in Highway
and Street Work Zones.
(4) MUTCD changes. The FHWA may establish target dates for achieving
compliance with changes to specific devices in the MUTCD.
(e) Specific information signs. Standards for specific information
signs are contained in the MUTCD.
>>