On 19 September 1949, the United Nations Conference on Road and Motor Transport concluded in Geneva after nearly four weeks of negotiations. Convened from 23 August, the conference sought to replace outdated international road-traffic arrangements and establish common rules for growing cross-border motor travel. Its principal achievement was the Convention on Road Traffic, opened for signature on the final day. Contrary to the often-cited figure of 20, the UN Treaty Collection records 19 signatories, including India, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Switzerland. The agreement addressed international traffic, recognition of vehicles and drivers, and documentation requirements, while a separate Protocol dealt with road signs and signals.
The Convention entered into force on 26 March 1952 and helped establish a foundation for more harmonised international road mobility before the 1968 Vienna Convention eventually replaced it.
