Traffic lights are one of the most common sights on our roads. They have become an integral part of our commute, and we barely even think about them. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself how they came to be? In this article, we will explore the history of traffic lights and find out how they changed the way we commute!

Before traffic lights, cars were not the only vehicles on the road. There were also _____1_____-drawn carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians all sharing the same space. This led to a lot of accidents, and something needed to be done to regulate the traffic.

The first known traffic light was installed in _____2____ in 1868. It was designed by J.P. Knight and consisted of two ______3_____ arms and two ____4_____ lamps. The lamp would be lit when it was safe to cross the road, and the arm would be raised when it was not. This system was not without its flaws, however; as there were no _____5____, the lamp-lighter had to manually operate the lights, which often led to inconsistency.

In 1869, an American inventor named _____6_____ Morgan invented the first electric traffic signal. His design consisted of a set of red and green lights that were controlled by a switch inside a _____7_____ office. While this design improved upon the previous one, it was still far from perfect. The biggest issue was that the officer had to manually operate the switch, which often led to human error.

It wasn’t until _____8_____ that the first traffic light with a timer was invented. This design, created by ____9_____ Potts, used four colored lights (red, yellow, green, and red) that were controlled by a timing mechanism. This system quickly became the standard for traffic lights around the world and remains in use today.

So there you have it: the history of traffic lights! While they may seem like a simple invention, they have had a profound impact on our daily lives. Next time you’re stopped at a red light, take a moment to think about how far we’ve come thanks to this humble invention.