In 1912 a policeman from Utah named Lester Wire (seriously) invented the electric Traffic Signal. Today the Google homepage (in most of Americas, Europe and most of British Commonwealth) flashes (pun unintended) a Doodle commemorating the 1st Electric Traffic Light installation.
Though Gas Light traffic signals were installed in Britain before, they proved unsafe as they had a tendency to explode. In Cleveland, Ohio, on 5th August, 1914, the world’s first electric Traffic Signal was installed for public use. Those first Lights did not have the Yellow/Amber which we find in modern signals.
Without the Amber light, the traffic was chaotic as drivers did not have any warning about the light change from Green to Red. The confusion has been beautifully brought out in the Google by the Doodler Nate Swinehart.
Though the Traffic Light Doodle shows the traffic driving ‘right’ instead of the British-Indian-Aussie-Japanese ‘left’, the Doodle is most appropriate for India. For, do we actually keep left? Or, for that matter, do we actually stop when the signal turns Red?
:-P
For now, enjoy the Doodle.
Though Gas Light traffic signals were installed in Britain before, they proved unsafe as they had a tendency to explode. In Cleveland, Ohio, on 5th August, 1914, the world’s first electric Traffic Signal was installed for public use. Those first Lights did not have the Yellow/Amber which we find in modern signals.
Without the Amber light, the traffic was chaotic as drivers did not have any warning about the light change from Green to Red. The confusion has been beautifully brought out in the Google by the Doodler Nate Swinehart.
Though the Traffic Light Doodle shows the traffic driving ‘right’ instead of the British-Indian-Aussie-Japanese ‘left’, the Doodle is most appropriate for India. For, do we actually keep left? Or, for that matter, do we actually stop when the signal turns Red?
:-P
For now, enjoy the Doodle.
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