Abstract
Knowledge of a small selection of the symbolic traffic signs has been assessed in a survey carried out by Mass Observation Ltd. in November 1965. Generally understanding of the signs was not at a high level and for some signs it was extremely low. In an effort to discover why the new system was presented such difficulties a closer analysis has been made of this survey. The types of misunderstanding are considered in some detail. Also subdivisions of the sample have been made according to age, sex, social class and area; and although these produce small variations in knowledge the indications are that the difficulties are common to all groups of the community.