The first traffic lights were illuminated using gas and were manually controlled.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The world's first traffic light was installed outside the Houses of Parliament in London on December 10, 1868. This pioneering device used gas for illumination. Proposed by railway engineer J.P. Knight, it was designed to manage the heavy flow of horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians.
The operational mechanics were quite simple:
- Gas Illumination: The light source came from burning gas, similar to street lamps of the time.
- Manual Control: A police officer stood nearby and manually operated the lights. The light used semaphore arms, which were essentially pivoting arms that signaled "stop" and "go," much like railway signals. The color of the light would have been visible through colored glass.
Unfortunately, this initial experiment was short-lived. On January 2, 1869, a mere month after installation, the gas light exploded, injuring the police officer operating it. This led to the removal of the gas-lit traffic light, and the concept wouldn't be revisited until electric traffic lights were developed in the early 20th century.
