Road Research Laboratory
1933 The Road Experimental Station at Harmondsworth near London was transferred from the Ministry of Transport to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. Early research was mainly on road materials and design, with some work on safety.
By 1939 the increase in road accidents was causing concern but moves to establish a road safety research board were postponed due to the outbreak of World War 2.
WWII war effort included input into the design of the Dambuster bomb.
1945 Research into road traffic and safety was added to the work of RRL.
Post-WWII: research steadily expanded to meet the problems created by the rapid growth of road traffic; advances were made in pavements and earthworks. Road and vehicle safety research studied pedestrian accidents, leading to the development of the Zebra crossing in the late 1940s. Other topics included traffic capacity, traffic control, road signs, geometric design, and traffic and transport planning.
1949 RRL's Scottish branch was open
1955 at the request of the Colonial Office, the Overseas section was founded.
Investigations into braking performance, lighting systems, direction indicators, safety helmets and street lighting.
1960 the "Priority Rule" at roundabouts was introduced thanks to work undertaken by RRL.
1967 The Laboratory's new facilities in Crowthorne were formally opened.
1972 Name changed to Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL), reflecting the wider remit including freight, traffic and environmental studies.
See Also
Sources of Information
- TRL Website [1]