DID YOU KNOW…
The Explosive Debut: World's First Traffic Light Went Boom!
Before the age of automobiles, London installed the world's first traffic light in 1868 to manage horse-drawn carriage traffic, but it tragically exploded just a month later.
Designed by railway signal engineer J.P. Knight, this pioneering signal was a gas-powered lantern, manually operated by a police constable to display red and green lights near the Houses of Parliament. Its purpose was to control the chaotic flow of pedestrians and carriages. However, a gas leak led to an explosion, severely injuring the constable and leading to its swift removal, delaying the widespread adoption of traffic signals until safer electric versions appeared with the rise of motor vehicles.
Love discovering things like this?
A new fact every day with photos, on the free app.