Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Traffic Signals
Dec 29, 2021
The fascinating history of traffic signals reveals surprising facts about their origins and development. Discover how the first traffic light in Cleveland and the London installation of 1868 shaped modern urban infrastructure. Key innovators like Garrett Morgan and Lester Wire contributed to the evolution of safety features, including the caution light. The discussion humorously covers the strange trend of advertising on traffic signals while also addressing the role of traffic police in managing chaotic intersections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
First Traffic Signal
- London had the first traffic signal in 1868, designed by John Peake Knight.
- A gas lamp explosion a month later halted its development for 40 years.
American Traffic Signals
- After London's failed attempt, Americans revived the traffic signal idea.
- Multiple inventors contributed, making it difficult to credit a single person.
Lester Wire's Traffic Light
- Lester Wire created a red and green light traffic signal in Salt Lake City in 1912.
- His design, resembling a birdhouse, predates the widely recognized Cleveland light.
