when were traffic lights invented

Traffic lights, those little tyrants controlling our daily chaos, were first invented way back in 1868 by a British railway engineer named J.P. Knight. His initial contraption was a gas-lit semaphore system installed outside the Houses of Parliament in London. However, the electric traffic light as we know it today didn’t show up until 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio, courtesy of Lester Wire. So, while the concept is over 150 years old, the modern electric signals that dictate your stop-and-go are just a century or so young. Remember to check official historical records if you fancy a deep dive into traffic control evolution.