Where was the world's first gas-operated traffic signal installed?

Engineer John Peake Knight was a railway manager specialised in designing signalling systems for Britain's railway network. In 1865 he approached the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police with an idea to use a railway signalling system on the roads of London. At the time there were no cars on the road but there was growing concern at the number of horse drawn carriages and danger to pedestrians. Knight's proposal was to use a semaphore system during the day and red and green lights, lit by gas, at night. Policemen would stand next to the signals to operate them.

The plan was implemented on 9 December 1868: the world's first traffic lights were installed at the junction of Great George Street and Bridge Street in the London borough of Westminster. It was an immediate success, but a month into the project disaster struck. One evening a leaky gas mains resulted in one of the traffic lights exploding in the face of the policeman who was operating them: he was badly burnt.

More Info: www.bbc.co.uk

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

130 Comments

Carole Benner

I got it right AND I didn't google!

Cassandra Cobb

The world's first manual traffic light was built and set up in London in 1868. In 1910, the first automated traffic signal used two arms; one which had the word "STOP" and the other "GO". The arms raised and lowered intermittently for the flow of traffic. The first electric traffic light that used red and green was in 1912. The first electric traffic signal was set up in Cleveland, Ohio in 1914.

Alice Wilson

One was installed in Ohio but the first one installed was in London...fine print. Sort of a trick question.

Steven Cooper

It seems to me the first electric traffic light was in Cleveland but the question was the first traffic light which was London, so the answer is correct.

Dolores Wieland

London although it was not electric i 1868. It killed a policeman so they shut it down,,

Mark McClain

I think this is the first traffic light, not the first 'electric' traffic light. I guess you could call the lighthouse at Alexandria a traffic light of sorts also, for boat traffic. Gotta think outside of the box, like with crossword clues.

Ben

Every success story is a disaster waiting on the side lines.

mapiferuk

Carole Benner, what’s the point of using Google you’d be cheating yourself

Irene Townsend

Mark McClain, The question didn't ask for the first "electric" traffic light. It ask for the first Gas light which was London, England

Irene Townsend

Alice Wilson, Why is this a trick question. It asked a straight forward question and give you 4 straight forward answers to choose from . Simple to understand and simple to answer. No tricks there

usha

Chose because oldest and modern city

Jamie

Mark McClain, it was merely a gas light, though. It didn't go over very well.

Jamie

More importantly when electricity came into the picture a real traffic light was created. I think the world's first electric traffic signal is premiered in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1914.