UK's original road sign designer Margaret Calvert calls for scrapping of 'elderly crossing' signs
Margaret Calvert, the woman who designed many of the UK’s iconic road signs has joined Ros Altmann, the government's employment Tsar, in calling for the scrapping of the sign designed to warn of elderly people crossing.
The sign, which shows a stooped old man and woman – complete with walking sticks – was described as "discriminatory" by Altmann, who said it could deter companies from hiring elderly people.
Calvert, who invented the UK’s system of road signs along with her collaborator Jock Kinneir in the 60s, agrees.
The designer, who is in her late 70s told The Drum, “As a current ‘elderly person’ I think the ‘elderly people’ road sign should be scrapped as it just adds to the overall clutter.
“The relatively new ‘count down’ signs are a vast improvement, regarding safety crossing the road at whatever age.
“I have no idea who designed it, (the elderly sign) but it certainly was not me.”
In fact the sign was the winning entry in a children's competition held in 1981.
Calvert’s signs included the warnings for children, deer and cows crossing as well as men at work.
In the past she had described the elderly sign as "prissy" and "badly proportioned not like our robust families of pictograms".