Edinburgh Council Calls for End to Traffic‑Cone Statue Prank During World Cup

A long‑standing Scottish prank of placing orange traffic cones on public statues, which began in Glasgow in the 1980s, has resurfaced after Scotland qualified for the World Cup. The tradition has spread to Edinburgh, where statues of Adam Smith, Walter Scott and David Hume have been adorned with cones, and even to cities abroad such as Boston and Miami.

Edinburgh City Council has asked residents to stop the practice, warning that unsecured cones could cause injuries and pose a road‑safety hazard. Council transport and environment convener Stephen Jenkinson told Edinburgh Live that, while the jokes are made in good humour, public safety must come first.