No one really enjoys sititng at stoplights, but we know they’re valuable. But do you know the history of the first stoplight?
The first stoplight
Stoplights, or traffic lights, date back to the mid-19th century. In 1868, the first traffic signal was installed outside the British Houses of Parliament in London. This signal featured a revolving gas lamp with red and green lenses and was manually operated by a police officer. The officer would signal to drivers using an arm.
However, the signals were not very effective, and it was eventually removed after only a month. It wasn’t until the 20th century that traffic signals looked like the modern traffic lights we know today.
The first electric traffic signal was installed in 1912 by a Salt Lake City police officer named Lester Wire. The signal used red and green lights and a buzzer to signal changes in traffic patterns. This device was effective in reducing the number of accidents in Salt Lake City.
The modern traffic light, with its familiar red, yellow, and green lights, was invented in 1920 by a Detroit police officer named William Potts. Potts was inspired to create the new signal after witnessing a terrible accident at an intersection.
He designed the modern three-color light operated by an automatic timer. This allowed for a smoother traffic flow and reduced accidents. Potts’ design quickly became popular, and the lights were soon adopted throughout the United States.
Today, millions of stoplights are installed around the world. Some now use sensors to detect the presence of vehicles and adjust their timing accordingly.
Another fun fact
One interesting feature of traffic lights is their use of the color yellow. While red and green have obvious meanings (stop and go, respectively), the use of yellow is less clear. In the early days of traffic lights, yellow was used to indicate that the signal was about to change.
However, over time, yellow has come to represent caution, with drivers expected to slow down and prepare to stop. Despite their importance, traffic lights can also be a source of frustration for drivers. In fact, traffic lights are one of the most common causes of traffic congestion in urban areas.
Today, new systems are being developed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion.
Source: “A Brief History of the Stoplight” — Smithsonian Magazine
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