Whether you are driving or not, you know the traffic rule of stopping at a red light and going through a green light.

Many drivers wait for the traffic light when the master is thinking, is the first car or the first traffic light, the traffic light is who invented it?

Today we will come together to understand the road traffic lights of the past and present life.

The concept of traffic regulation predates the invention of the car. Early civilizations, such as ancient Egypt and Rome, used similar principles to control the movement of chariots and pedestrians. Yet, the origins of the modern traffic light are attributed to European cities in the 19th century.

The earliest predecessor to the traffic light was the gas-lit semaphore system developed by British engineer John Peake Knight. In 1868, Knight implemented semaphore signals to control the flow of horse-drawn carriages in London. However, this system was not fully automated and required a human operator.

The first electric traffic light, which resembles the modern version we know today, emerged later. In the United States, in 1912, Lester Wire, a police officer from Salt Lake City, devised a system using red and green electric lights to manage traffic flow.

Wire's traffic lights were manually operated and did not incorporate yellow signals. It was in 1920 when William Potts, a Detroit police officer, developed the first fully automated three-color traffic light. Potts' design offered a breakthrough, as it included the yellow light, allowing for a smoother transition between stop-and-go phases.

Simultaneously, the invention and popularization of the automobile were revolutionizing personal transportation. Karl Benz is credited with inventing the first practical automobile in 1886. It took several decades for cars to become affordable and widely accessible to the general public. As automobiles became more prevalent, the need for effective traffic control became apparent.

Traffic lights gained greater significance with the proliferation of cars since they offered an organized and safer means of regulating traffic. By the 1920s, traffic lights were being installed in various cities across the world. Notably, New York City installed its first operating traffic light in 1920.

The growing number of cars on the road necessitated a structured traffic management system, and traffic lights were key to achieving this goal. It becomes clear that the traffic light predated the widespread adoption of the automobile. The concept of traffic regulation existed before the invention of the car.

While the invention of the car revolutionized personal transportation, the need for traffic control systems emerged simultaneously. The mass adoption of the automobile further reinforced the importance of traffic lights in regulating traffic flow and ensuring safety on the roads.