In a previous article, we described how the circuit played a crucial role in developing road surfaces. After the creation of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923, the ACO spent several years trying to convince the French authorities how effective its road surfacing techniques were – and how they were less expensive. The Ministry of Transport finally adopted the ACO’s methods when it launched the complete (and considerably faster) renovation of the national road network in 1927. 

The centre line marking was another innovation introduced in the late 1920s and it quickly spread from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to France’s roads. The line was first used at the circuit after several drivers pointed out that at night and in the rain, there was not enough light from the headlamps fitted to their cars to see where they were on the track.
In 1930, a circular from the Ministry of Public Works extended the use of a white Vialac paint line to the country's road network. Today, if you cross the line – deliberately or otherwise – you risk losing a point or two on your driving licence!

The centre line marking was another innovation introduced in the late 1920s and quickly spread from the 24 Hours of Le Mans to France’s roads. The line was first used at the circuit after several drivers pointed out that at night and in the rain, there was not enough light from the headlamps fitted to their cars to see where they were on the track. 
In 1930, a circular from the Ministry of Public Works extended the use of a white Vialac paint line to the general road network. Today, if you cross the line – deliberately or otherwise – you risk losing a point or two on your driving licence!

Vertical road signs also appeared in 1930, having first been used at the 24 Hours circuit. These were enamelled retroreflective signs from the Reflect brand and featured inlaid semi-spherical beads that reflected light from the cars’ headlamps. They were first installed to indicate difficult bends.

In 1931, the 24 Hours circuit was awarded the official title of “national testbed”. Then, in 1933, to further mark the outer limits of the corners, posts inlaid with retroreflectors – red or white depending on which side of the track they were placed – were installed on all the circuit’s bends. They remained in use until the 1960s, and on our roads today, we can still see similar white plastic posts fitted with retro-reflective strips.

More recently, the circuit has been equipped with “rumble strips”, cement structures located at the tangent point of a trajectory. A similar feature has since been introduced to the French secondary road network, in the form of a “corrugated” or grooved surface placed on the centre line of the roads.

First introduced at Le Mans in 1985 to manage the Formula 3000 races (the forerunner of today’s FIA Formula 2), CCTV networks have since spread to all the world’s racetracks and are now installed on motorway networks throughout the world.

After being made a “national testbed” in 1931, over the years the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit has gradually become a kind of “international testbed”, trialing innovations now used on roads all around the world. It also innovates in terms of infrastructure, with “safety for all” its overriding concern at all times. But that’s a tale for another day! Watch this space…

PHOTOS: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS CIRCUIT – TOP TO BOTTOM (Copyright: ACO ARCHIVES): Road markings are still the most visible symbol of the innovations to come out of the 24 Hours circuit and onto our roads. The centre line was introduced in the 1930s (top) and is still used in the 21st century (bottom picture, 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans).