The yellow traffic light celebrated its centennial in 2023. This invention stemmed from a need to improve road safety during a time of rapid change in transportation.
In the early 1920s, American streets were a mix of new and old. Cars, trucks, and streetcars shared roads with horse-drawn buggies and pedestrians.
Many drivers lacked experience, leading to chaotic and dangerous conditions.
Garrett Morgan, an inventor from Cleveland, witnessed a terrible crash between a car and a horse-drawn buggy. This event pushed him to create a better traffic signal.
His design included a unique feature – a pause between “stop” and “go” signals.
Morgan’s traffic signal looked like a T-shape with movable arms. A hand crank powered the device. Its key innovation was the “clear the intersection” step, which we now know as the yellow light.
The new signal aimed to reduce accidents caused by eager drivers.
Morgan noted that drivers often started moving as soon as they saw a “go” signal, even if the intersection wasn’t clear. The yellow light gave time for vehicles and pedestrians to exit the intersection safely.
Morgan’s invention came at a time when electricity wasn’t common on city streets. His mechanical signal offered more flexibility than electric versions.
He first installed it in Willoughby, Ohio to show how it worked.
General Electric saw potential in Morgan’s idea. They bought the rights to his patent for $40,000, a large sum at the time.
While Morgan’s exact design didn’t become widely used, the concept of the yellow light became a standard feature in modern traffic signals.
Morgan was already known for inventing a smoke hood that helped firefighters. He passed away in Cleveland in July 1963.
Today, his original traffic signal prototype is on display at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum in Washington, D.C.
The yellow light has been keeping roads safer for 100 years. It continues to play a vital role in traffic management, helping to prevent accidents and save lives.
