Who Invented the Traffic Light in 1923

YOGYAKARTA - The development of traffic lights in the world has occurred gradually. However, the patent for the three-color traffic occurred in 1923. Garrett Morgan is the answer to the question of who invented the traffic light in 1923. Then who is Garret Morgan actually?

Reported by The Franklink Institute, the forerunner of the red light actually existed since the 1860s. At that time, the British inventor JP Knight came up with the idea of using gas lights to control traffic.

The development of traffic lights continues. In 1914, traffic lights had used electricity but only two colors, namely red and green. The color change was also done manually using a switch system.

When officers changed the color of the lights by switching, the driver of the car did not have time to walk and stop as the lights were. This turned out to trigger a collision between drivers. Until finally on November 20, 1923, the United States Patent Office issued patent document number 1,475,074 to Garrett Morgan for his three-position traffic light.

Garrett Morgan is a black inventor. He was born on March 4, 1877 in Kentucky. He was born to mixed parents who were free from slavery. As a minority, Morgan's life was quite difficult. He even only went to school up to grade 6. However, beyond his condition, Garrett Morgan is widely recognized as a smart person.

During his life, Morgan often produced findings. One of his findings was the Gas Hood, which has now evolved into a gas mask. His Gas Hood discovery was even reported to be able to save people during an explosion in the Cleveland tunnel.

Morgan, who reaped success from various discoveries, was the first black person to own a car in Cleveland. He often drove his car to go somewhere. Until finally Morgan witnessed a terrible road accident at an intersection. From that problem Morgan then thought about how to prevent intersection accidents from happening again.

As the inventor of Morgan was aware that the existing lights were not enough to warn drivers, whether cars, bicycles, or horse-drawn carriages. For this reason, he then added a third sign. Morgan's traffic light invention was originally a T-shaped pole with three different settings. Each sign has a different function.

As a result of his invention, Morgan managed to arrange the intersection so that it was easier to pass through. Morgan's lamp product was then bought by General Electric for $40,000.

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