1896

Lights are now required along with some form of "audible warning"

Every heavy locomotive has to be registered with the County or County Borough Council

First speeding ticket issued. On 28 January. A Mr. Walter Arnold was fined one shilling (5p) for travelling at 8mph in a 2mph area

First motoring fatality: Mrs Bridget Driscoll of Old Town, Croydon, run over by a Roger-Benz car at Crystal Palace, London on 17 August

1897

Automobile Club formed

First British driver to die from injuries sustained in a motoring accident: Mr Henry Lindfield of Brighton whose electrical carriage overturned on Saturday 12 February 1898. One of his legs was amputated and he died of shock the following day. Autocar blamed the crash on excessive speed

1899

A notable crash on 25 February 1899 at Grove Hill, Harrow. The driver, Mr Sewell, had been demonstrating the car, a Daimler Wagonette, to Major James Richer, Department Head at the Army & Navy Stores, with the view to a possible purchase for the company. Mr Sewell was killed on the spot, becoming the first driver of a petrol-driven car to die in an accident; Major Sewell died four days later without regaining consciousness, becoming Britain's first passenger fatality

1901

A Lloyd’s underwriter issues the first car accident claim motor insurance policy

1903

Motor Car Act 1903 required that all vehicles had to be registered and to display registration marks in a prominent position. The fee was twenty shillings (£1). The first registration marks consisted of one letter and one number, the first (A1) was issued by London County Council

Driving licences introduced - obtained by paying a fee of five shillings (25p) across the counter at a Post Office (at this time they were used merely for identification purposes)

First use of windscreens. These were made of ordinary glass and inflicted terrible injuries in accidents

Speed limit raised to 20mph with heavy fines for speeding and reckless driving

Henry Ford forms his company to manufacture automobiles

1904

Guidelines on Traffic Signs - Hollow white ring (speed limit); solid red disc (prohibition); hollow red triangle (caution); diamond (other)

The Hon. Charles Rolls designs and road tests his new car, a two cylinder 20mph machine

There are 28,842 vehicles registered in Great Britain

1905

The Automobile Association was formed

Vauxhall commences car production at Luton 

1907

April 6: Ford Model T launched, the first car made using moving production line system

First AA patrols go on duty on bicycles. Their primary duty was to warn motorists of police speed traps ahead

The Hon. Charles Rolls and Henry Royce combine their knowledge and expertise to produce the Rolls Royce, which quickly establishes prestige and a reputation for technical excellence

Automobile Club receives Royal patronage to become The Royal Automobile Club

1908

The Finance Act 1908 levied a tax of 3d on a gallon of petrol from April 1 1909

Full production of Model T Ford begins in USA

Rolls Royce factory opens in Derby

1909

The Finance Act 1909 - 10 based vehicle taxation on the horsepower of the vehicle (RAC horsepower, calculated as D2 x n / 2.5 where D is cylinder diameter and n the number of cylinders) and stated that the revenue would be paid into a Road Fund, to be used for road improvements (this would pay up to half of the cost of some new roads)

Petrol tax comes into force

1910

The Road Board was set up to administer grants paid to local authorities for road improvements. Its functions were taken over by the new Ministry of Transport in 1918

Road Fund Licences introduced. Charges were £2 - £10 for vehicles up to 6.5hp and £42 for 60hp

1911

Ford overturns Selden patent; Model T production comes to Britain (Manchester), again using mass production methods

Cadillac fits the first electric starters after a family friend of founder Henry Leland is killed by a starting handle; they are manufactured by the Dayton Engineering Laboratories (later known as Delco)

1912

Morris produces a car to rival the Model T Ford. The Morris Oxford, a 1 litre, 2 seater priced at £175

Roadside telephone boxes introduced by the Automobile Association

1914

August 4: Britain declares war on Germany

Petrol pumps introduced, initially by the AA (previously fuel was only available in cans, usually of 2 gallons' capacity)

1916

London "Safety First" Council formed. It was involved in a whole range of road safety initiatives and was consulted by government committees. In 1941 it was granted a Royal warrant and changed its name to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

1918

November 11: Great War ends

1919

Ministry of Transport set up, (replacing The Road Board).

1920

The Roads Act 1920 required Councils to register all vehicles at the time of licensing and to allocate a separate number to each vehicle

The Act clarified the situation regarding cars driven by internal combustion engines - previously there had been a mess of rules intended for road engines, horse-drawn vehicles and other traffic

Four-wheel hydraulic brakes introduced in the US

1921

Car Tax (Road Fund Licence) set at £1 per hp

Petrol Tax abolished and replaced by excise duty

Tax Discs introduced

Registration Documents (Logbooks) introduced for British cars

1922

Austin Seven launched

1923

The first roundabouts were developed to assist traffic movements at junctions

1926

First use of safety glass in windscreens (Compulsory from 1937)

First traffic lights, in Piccadilly, London - they were maually controlled

1927

Automatic traffic lights installed in Leeds and Wolverhampton

First London to Brighton car run

Single white lines were introduced as road dividers

1928

Morris Minor production begins with prices starting at £125

First automatically controlled traffic lights, in Wolverhampton

1930

Road Traffic Act 1930 abolished the 20mph speed limit and set a variety of limits for different classes of vehicle. There was no speed limit for vehicles carrying less than seven persons

A form of driving test for disabled drivers was introduced; this eventually leads to the (in) famous Invacar

Minimum driving age set

Proposed Highway Code

Third Party Insurance becomes compulsory

Just over 1 million cars on the road and 7,300 road deaths

1931

At the discretion of Traffic Commissioners, public service vehicle drivers could be required to take a test

Highway Code published in April, cost 1d

Morris Minor costs £100 for the basic model

1932

Ford sets up its' Dagenham car plant (moved from Manchester)

First pedestrian operated street crossing lights installed on Brighton Road, Croydon, Surrey

1934

Road Traffic Act 1934

The Chief Commissioner introduced tests for drivers of heavy goods vehicles

Driving test became compulsory, with testing commencing in 1935. The test fee was 10s (50p)

Cat's Eyes invented by Percy Shaw of Halifax (UK)

Hendon Driving School founded by Metropolitan Police

Flashing orange globes at pedestrian crossings introduced. The bill to implement them was promoted by the then Minister of Transport, Leslie Hore-Belisha

First cycle path constructed in Britain, along the Western Avenue. Cyclists forced to give way to motor traffic turning left across them

7,000 people killed as a result of road accidents and only 1,500,000 registered vehicles

1935

Driving tests commenced voluntarily on 13 March and are compulsory from 1 June

30mph speed limit re-introduced in urban areas

First Provisional Driving Licences introduced. They lasted for three months and drivers were required to display 'L' plates on their vehicle

First use of windscreen wipers, initially often powered by vacuum bleed from the inlet manifold, which made for an "interesting" variation with engine speed

Highway code revised

1936

Trunk Roads Act transfers responsibility for main roads from local authorities to Ministry of Transport

Chancellor of the Exchecquer Winston Churchill winds up the Road fund, bringing to an end hypothecated road taxation

1937

Dipped headlights introduced

Safety glass for windscreens and speedometers made compulsory

1938

Morris Series E Saloon launched. This 8hp car was the cheapest in Britain costing £128

1939

World War II starts September 3

Driving tests suspended on September 2 due to impending war

Petrol rationing introduced allowing about 200 miles of motoring per month for each motorist

Two million cars on Britain's roads

Road deaths totaled 8,272, the increase probably being due to the blackout

Insurers complain that the incidence of car accident injury claim cases continues to increase, placing a strain on their resources

1940

20mph speed limit in darkness introduced to attempt to combat the high incidence of road accidents

Introduction of British Summer Time, partly due to the road death toll

Road signs removed due to the threat of enemy invasion

Under occupation, use of cycle paths becomes compulsory in the Netherlands

1941

RoSPA formed

9,169 road deaths including 4,781 pedestrians. This is 38% higher than the immediate pre-war figure despite their being under half as many cars on the road

1942

Kerb Drill launched

1944

Volvo introduce a safety cage on volume production cars

1946

Driving tests reintroduced 1 November

Triumph 1800 introduced with American-style steering column gearshift

1947

A period of one year was granted for holders of wartime provisional licences to convert to a full licence, without having to take a test

RAC/ACU (Auto Cycle Union, trivia fans) Motorcycle Training Scheme launched

1948

Flat rate car tax set at £10 per car

1949

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) was formed with the aim of raising driving standards by offering an Advanced Driving Test

1950

Seatbelts fitted for first time to Nash Rambler, intended to prevent sleeping passengers from falling out of their seats

Petrol rationing ends

1951

Zebra Crossings introduced, the first one is in Slough

1954

Highway Code revised

Flashing indicators on cars become legal

The first British diesel engined private car was a version of the Standard Vanguard Phase II

1955

League of Safe Drivers Formed - amalgamated with RoSPA in 1980 to become the RoSPA Advanced Drivers Association

1956

Driving tests suspended on 24 November due to the Suez crisis and anyone who had held a driving licence for one month during the crisis was allowed to drive unaccompanied

The Institute of Advanced Motorists introduced the Advanced Driving Test

Petrol rationing introduced in December

1957

Compulsory driver testing resumed on April 15

The three-year driving licence was introduced in September

Petrol rationing ends in March

1958

The six-month provisional licence was introduced in March

Britain's first motorway, The Preston by-pass opens. Costing £4m to build and 8.5 miles in length, it is now part of the M6

Parking meters introduced. The first were installed outside the American Embassy in London on 10 July

1959

The BMC Mini goes on sale, price of £500

Ford Anglia (105E) rolls out at Dagenham

M1 motorway is opened by Ernest Marples, the Minister of Transport on 2 November. The first section ran for 72 miles from St Albans to Birmingham and cost £50M to build (£10 for every car on Britain's roads!). The section from St Albans (Park Street Roundabout) to Hemel Hempstead was later bypassed and became the M10

Double white lines introduced as road dividers

Hammersmith flyover in London built at a cost of £1.3m

Number of cars on British roads exceeds five million

1960

MOT test introduced for vehicles over 10 years old covering brakes, lights and steering

Learner motorcyclists restricted to machines under 250cc

Traffic Wardens appear on the streets of London

1961

Highway Code revised

10 million vehicles on British roads and 350,000 casualties in total

Automated multi-story car parks open in London

The first self-service fuel station opens, at Southwark Bridge, London

E Type Jaguar launched

1962

Voluntary Register of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) passed by Parliament

Panda Crossings introduced (a forerunner to the pelican crossing, a traffic-light controlled crossing with pedestrian push-button)

Commercial Vehicle test inaugurated

Valid MOT certificate now needed in order to obtain tax disc

Ford Cortina launched

1963

Warboys Report proposes present day (continental style) traffic signs

Automatic disqualification now mandatory for anyone with three driving licence endorsements in a three year period

Number plates with alphabetic suffix introduced starting with 'A' in January

Dartford Tunnel opened in November at a cost of £13M

Three London streets pedestrianized on an experimental basis

1964

Box junctions marked with yellow cross-hatching introduced in London

Forth road bridge opened by The Queen

Vauxhall produces Viva (HA) at its Ellesmere Port factory

1965

Temporary 70mph speed limit introduced on unrestricted roads (including motorways)

50 mph speed limits were introduced on certain rural trunk roads in Britain in an attempt to reduce accidents

Continental type traffic signs introduced

'Halt' sign replaced by 'Stop'

Severn Bridge opens

Brake stop lamps were made compulsory in the UK

All new cars must have flashing turn indicators from 1st September

Personal injury claim settlements due to road accidents reach 398,000

1966

Give Way rule introduced for roundabouts

1967

Ministry of Transport issue "Road Safety - A Fresh Approach", a Paper proposing a wide range of measures to reduce the number of injuries

Drink Drive laws come into force in UK on October 8, with a limit of 80mg alcohol in 100ml blood

Seat belts compulsory in new cars registered after 1 April

Annual MOT test for all cars over three years old, replaces the ten year requirement introduced in 1960

Number plate suffix change moves to August each year to boost new car sales

1968

Highway Code revised and enlarged

Tyre checks added to MOT test

1969

A separate driving licence group was established for vehicles with automatic transmission

Pelican Crossings introduced

1970

HGV driving test becomes compulsory

Register of Approved Driving Instructors comes into force

15 million vehicles on British roads

1971

Green Cross Code introduced

Zig Zag markings introduced at Zebra Crossings

1972

16-year-olds restricted to riding mopeds with maximum capacity of 50cc

Graveley Hill Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) near Birmingham opens

1973

Temporary 50mph national speed limit imposed to reduce fuel consumption (due to Israel/Egypt war)

VASCAR speed detection equipment used for the first time

Reflective number plates made compulsory on all vehicles

Computerized driving licences issued

Crash helmets are made compulsory for riders of powered two wheeled vehicles

Multi-tone car horns banned

1974

Road Traffic Act 1974

First airbags fitted to production cars

1975

Front number plates on motorcycles abolished

Legislation requiring vehicles to be lit in the daytime in conditions of seriously reduced visibility

1976

Mini-roundabouts are introduced to speed traffic flow at uncontrolled junctions

1977

Mopeds re-defined to a maximum speed of 30mph

MOT test now includes windscreen washers, wipers, indicators, spotlights, horn, body structure and exhaust systems

Ford launches the Fiesta

1978

Highway Code revised

Mandatory fitting of rear fog lamps to most vehicles manufactured after 1/10/1979

60mph national speed limit introduced and 70mph motorway speed limit made permanent

1980

BL launch the Metro

RoSPA Advanced Drivers Association set up

Second Dartford Tunnel opened in May at a cost of £45M, having taken eight years to build

Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Transport Safety (PACTS) set up

1981

Minimum age for driving an invalid car reduced to 16yrs Humber Bridge opened

CB radio legalized in Great Britain

1982

Two part motorcycle test introduced

Points system replaces the totting up of driving licence endorsements; collection of 12 or more points in three years results in disqualification

1983

Drivers and front seat passengers in cars and light vans must wear seat belts

Learner motorcyclists restricted to machines of no more than 125cc

First road hump regulations made

MOT test for taxis and vehicles with more than eight passenger seats reduced to vehicles over one year old

Q plate introduced for vehicles of indeterminable age, a response to increasing fradulent use of old log books to obtain valuable registration marks

Over 20 million vehicles on British roads. The casualty toll has fallen to 309,000

1984

Lorries and trailers to be fitted with spray reducing devices

1985

Sinclair C5 launched

Car phones introduced

1986

European Year of Road Safety

Fixed penalty fines for minor motoring offences introduced

M25 completed

Unleaded petrol goes on sale

Work commences on Channel Tunnel

1987

All cars have rear seat belts fitted at point of manufacture in UK

Zig Zag markings extended to Pelican Crossings

1988

All coaches first used from 1974 to have 70mph speed limiters fitted by April 1992 (updated regulations 1994)

All new cars manufactured after 1 April are required to run on unleaded petrol

1989

Children travelling in cars must wear seat belts/approved restraints where fitted

A tougher accompanied motorcycle 'L' test is introduced

Wheel clamping introduced in London

1990

Driving Standards Agency created by the Department of Transport

New regulations require that those accompanying learner drivers must have held a full driving licence for at least three years and are 21 years old or over

'Compulsory Basic Training' (CBT) for motorcyclists introduced

Learner motorcycle riders prohibited from carrying pillion passengers

Children's Traffic Club formed

1991

All rear seat passengers must wear seat belts where fitted

20mph zones introduced to reduce accidents in busy urban areas

White chevrons painted on the M1 motorway to encourage drivers to keep their distance

Dartford (Queen Elizabeth) Bridge is opened in October. It took three years to build and cost £86M

Petrol prices soar as a result of the Gulf War

MOT test to include petrol emissions, anti-lock braking and rear seat belts

1992

Speed enforcement cameras introduced at permanent sites

All new goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes to be fitted with 60mph limiters

Minimum tyre tread depth of 1.6mm is introduced

Catalytic converters fitted to all new petrol engined cars

Toyota comes to Britain, producing cars in Derbyshire

1993

Highway Code revised

Greater use of red light and speed cameras planned

First trials of Puffin Crossing, which incorporates developments such as red/green man indicators positioned to allow the pedestrian to see both them and approaching traffic at the same time, and sensors to extend the red-light time if the crossing is not clear (e.g. slow-moving pedestrians)

MOT test extended to cover many smaller items including rear fog lamps, registration plates and mirrors

1994

Bus and coach speeds limited to 65mph and HGVs to 56mph

Channel Tunnel opens to passengers

MOT test includes diesel emissions

1996

Introduction of The Driving Theory Test. Drivers must now pass this written test of knowledge before they are able to take the practical test of driving competence

1997

Fitting of seat belts and restraints in minibuses and coaches used to transport children made compulsory

3,599 people were killed, 42,967 were seriously injured and 327,544 were slightly injured on Great Britain's roads

1999

Highway Code revised and updated

White Paper issued by HM Government "A New Deal for Transport - Better for Everyone"

Vehicle excise duty for a car/van with an engine capacity of 1100cc or less, reduced to £100 per year (from £155)

New bus lane on M4 motorway opened (between Heathrow Airport and London) at a cost of £1.9m

From 1 July all driving licences issued of the photo card type

2000

DfT publish it's strategy for reducing road accident casualties over the next ten years in it's report "Tomorrow's Roads - Safer for Everyone"

BMW sells the Rover Car Company to a Management Consortium

Ford announces that it is to cease car production at it's Dagenham plant after 68 years

The National Cycle Network is officially opened

HGV drivers and farmers stage protests at oil refineries throughout the UK. Panic buying leads to petrol stations running out of fuel; the country grinds to a standstill

General Motors announce that they intend to close the Vauxhall car plant in Luton with the loss of 2,000 jobs

DfT, in conjunction with The Home Office and The Lord Chancellor's Office publish consultation paper "Road Traffic Penalties"

2001

Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel goes on sale

Number plate system completely revised: two letters to denote region, two numbers for year, three letters for uniqueness.

2002

Car production at Vauxhall's Luton plant ceased after 97 years

AA roadside phone boxes scrapped; a small number of wooden "sentry" boxes are retained as they have listed status

2003

Congestion charging introduced in London

From 1 December, use of handheld mobile phones banned

Britain's first toll motorway opened, the M6 relief road

2004

Jaguar ceases car production in Coventry

Congestion charging rejected in Edinburgh

2005

Rover Group bankrupt

2006

Road Safety Act passed. The act made provision for a wide range of road safety matters including: drink driving, speeding, driver training and driver and vehicle licensing