Red Light Running Week: history, facts and the importance of the red light

History and facts about traffic lights: the most important traffic sign

The world’s first traffic light was installed on December 10, 1868, in Parliament Square, London, to manage increasing horse-drawn carriage congestion and protect pedestrians. However, it was quickly removed due to safety issues, and traffic lights were not used again until 1929, following the invention of the three-light traffic signal in Detroit in 1921.

African-American inventor Garrett Morgan developed the first electric traffic lights in 1923. Modern traffic lights, which include an amber “caution” light, were introduced in 1921 by William Potts in Detroit. This three-color system became standard in the United States by the mid-1930s.

This system provides excellent clarity, as it can be recognized from a great distance with ease. The yellow or amber light was chosen to serve as a transition between green and red, while the red light, being bright is associated with danger. But do you know these traffic light curiosities?

• In Japan, the green light is replaced by blue.
• In some places, the yellow light allows motorcyclists to continue if the road is clear.
• In Austria, Israel, Serbia, Russia, and some areas of Canada and Mexico, the green light shines for a few seconds before turning amber.
• China has the first traffic light for camels, indicating when vehicles must stop to allow camels to pass.
• In Akureyri, Iceland, local authorities replaced circles with hearts to capture drivers’ attention.

Although traffic lights may vary by country, one aspect remains constant and universal: red always indicates that vehicles must stop.