Exploring the Brief History of Traffic Lights

Traffic lights are lights that control traffic flow installed at intersections, zebra crossings, and several other strategic locations. These lights indicate when vehicles are allowed to pass alternately. 

All countries in the world have long adopted traffic light systems to regulate vehicle flow. For example, a red light means that vehicles are prohibited from moving. Then, a yellow light indicates that vehicles may proceed but must be cautious. Meanwhile, a green light signifies that vehicles may go ahead. 

This is the general rule for traffic lights that is understood worldwide. Speaking of traffic lights, have you ever wondered who invented the most important light on the road? Let's take a look at the following review regarding the brief history of traffic lights. 

The Inventor of Traffic Lights 

The first traffic lights appeared in London, England in the 1860s. London was the first city to initiate the use of the world's first traffic command lights. 

At that time, London was the fourth most congested city in Europe and ranked 25th in the world. Since the mid-19th century, in a book titled Victorian London: The Life of a City 1840-1870 written by Liza Picard, there were already 13,000 vehicles including horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians crowding London every day. 

The heavy traffic clearly made it difficult for pedestrians, especially when faced with intersections. If this condition was left unchecked, it would lead to congestion and accidents. 

In 1868, the first traffic light was installed near the British Parliament building in Westminster. The design of traffic lights at that time was certainly very different from today's traffic lights. 

The traffic command sign adopted a semaphore design that served to give traffic commands. There was a 90-degree iron bar moved by mechanical power and equipped with a red light meaning stop. Then there was a 45-degree iron bar indicating that vehicles could proceed. At that time, there was no yellow light yet. 

This first traffic light was created by John Peake Knight, an engineer and also a railway manager. He was also the one who designed the railway traffic system in London to regulate train flow and prevent accidents. 

Modern traffic lights are believed to have emerged 46 years later. This traffic light was located at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1914. This was the first modern traffic light in the world, created by Garret Morgan, a technician from Ohio. 

It turns out that just having red and green lights was not enough. Then, the yellow light was introduced to complete the traffic lights we know today, serving as a caution signal. The yellow light was created as highways became increasingly crowded with motor vehicles, thus applying a caution signal to prevent congestion and reduce accident rates on the road. 

Functions and Meanings of Traffic Light Colors

As we know, traffic lights are present to regulate vehicle flow on the road. Their function is clear: to make road situations more conducive, prevent congestion, accidents, and facilitate other road users including pedestrians. 

But have you ever wondered what the considerations were for choosing the colors of the lights: red, yellow, and green? Why not use other colors? Like blue, pink, or purple? 

You should know that the choice of colors has its own considerations. For example, red contains an orange hue and green has a blue hue. This color selection can help colorblind individuals recognize traffic lights.

Meanwhile, yellow is a color that is quite easy to recognize during the day or night. Yellow is also considered a distinguishing color from the other two colors, red and green.  

Thus is the review regarding the brief history of traffic lights. Today, the existence of traffic lights is deemed important in ensuring the safety of every road user. 

Author: Dinno Baskoro