In this episode of 'It Started Somewhere,' host Shaimond delves into the fascinating history of traffic lights. From the world's first gas-lit traffic light invented by J.P. Knight in 1868 to modern AI-powered systems, discover the innovations that have made our roads safer and more efficient. Learn about key milestones such as the development of the first electric traffic light by Lester Wire, the introduction of the amber yellow light by William Potts, further advancements by Garret Morgan, and the standardization of traffic signals worldwide. Join us on this journey through time and technology.

Contact me at itstartedsomewhere@gmail.com

Imagine driving without traffic lights.

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Today, there are almost every

major intersection in America

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and most places around the world.

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But there was a time when they didn't

exist, so let's discover how they

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came to be what they are today.

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My name's Shaimond and this is, It

Started Somewhere, a podcast about

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the history of popular products,

places and things we know about, but

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may not know the story behind them.

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The world's first traffic light

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British railway engineer named J.P.

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Knight.

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The streets of London will crowded

with horse-drawn carriages, pedestrians

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and the occasional early automobile,

and to put some order to this chaos,

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Knight introduce the traffic light.

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It was a tall pole with a revolving gas

lantern displaying red and green signals.

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It was installed at the busy intersection

of Bridge Street and Great George

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Street near the Houses of Parliament.

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Police officers manually operated

the signal, switching between red

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and green to control traffic flow.

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But a few weeks after its installation on

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signal to explode injuring the policeman

operating it and putting a halt to further

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traffic signal development in London.

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Fast forward to the early 20th

century, the rise of automobiles

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was creating chaos on city streets.

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Traffic accidents were becoming more

frequent and something needed to be done.

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In 1912, a police officer named Lester

Wire in Salt Lake City, Utah develop

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the first electric traffic light.

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But the first electric traffic

signal was actually installed

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in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914.

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The signal was designed by James Hodge

used red and green lights and was

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controlled by a police officer in a booth.

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The 1920s saw rapid advancement

in traffic light technology.

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In 1920, William Potts, a police officer

in Detroit, Michigan created the first

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four-way, three-color traffic light.

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This design introduced the amber yellow

light as a cautionary signal between

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red and green laying the foundation

for the modern traffic light system

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we know today.

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During this time, traffic lights begin

to be controlled by automatic timers

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eliminating the need for manual operation.

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This allowed for more consistent

and efficient traffic flow.

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In 1923, Garrett Morgan patented a

three-way traffic signal which was an

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improvement over the existing two-position

signals that will common at the time.

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Morgan was the first to apply for

and receive a us patent for a three

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position traffic signal device.

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Morgan signal included bells

to indicate changing directions

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and could be positioned at that

half-mast during low traffic periods.

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During the 1920s, traffic lights

spread quickly across the United

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States and then to Europe.

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Paris installed its first traffic light

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As traffic lights became more

common, the need for standardization

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became apparent and on March 30th,

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Unification of Road Signals was

signed in Geneva, standardizing

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the three color red, yellow, green

traffic light system internationally.

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Now people all over the world

could experience the same traffic

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lighting system which improved

safety and cut down on fatalities.

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In 1952, Denver became one of

the first cities to implement.

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A computerized system for

traffic light control.

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This.

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This allowed for more sophisticated

traffic management based on traffic.

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Patterns and time of day.

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In 1967, Toronto became the first city to

use more advanced computers for vehicle.

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Detection and traffic signal control.

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This system could adjust signal

timing based on real time traffic

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conditions and was a precursor for the

smart traffic systems we see today.

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As we move into the late 20th and

early 21st centuries energy efficient

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led lights begin replacing traditional

incandescent bulbs offering better

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visibility and lower energy consumption.

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Pedestrian signals, countdown

timers and audio signals were

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added to be more inclusive and

enhanced safety for everyone.

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Now smart traffic signal

systems you sensors, cameras

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and artificial Intelligence to

optimize traffic flow in real time.

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They can adapt to changing traffic.

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conditions prioritize emergency vehicles.

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And even communicate

with connected vehicles.

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They're not just controlling.

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And traffic, the actively managing it.

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From gas lamps to AI powered systems,

the evolution of traffic lights

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reflects our ongoing quest to make

our roads safer and more efficient.

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The next time you're waiting.

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At a red light, take a moment

to appreciate the technology

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and rich history behind it.

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I'm Shaimond I'll catch you on the

next episode of It Started Somewhere.