Red light, green light!

Even back in the day, before the invention of cars, traffic in the bigger cities was pretty heavy. Police officers had to stand at busy intersections at all times. At the time, traffic was caused by the pedestrians, buggies, and wagons. The first light was placed at an intersection in London in 1868 and, according to the history of the traffic light I read about was a "revolving lantern with red and green signals". Red meant "stop" and green meant "caution." This lantern, was then operated by gas- a lever turned the lantern at its base so that the correct light was facing the traffic. In 1869, however, this traffic light exploded, and injured the officer who was operating it.
Once cars were invented, these traffic lights continued to be a hazard to those operating the lanterns. Police Officer William L. Potts from Detroit wanted to change this and tried to figure out a way to use the railroad signals for use on the street as well. The railroads were already using automatic controls, instead of manually operating them. The difference was, that there was not much traffic when it came to trains, since they only traveled parallel to each other. The street traffic was sort of all over the place. Potts decided to used red, amber, and green railroad lights and about "thirty-seven dollars worth of wire and electrical controls to make the world’s first 4-way three color traffic light", according to the article I read, which was then installed in 1920. Around the same time, the automatic traffic light was invented by an American inventor.
Traffic lights have been used to save peoples' lives. They control the flow of traffic. Traffic lights have been installed in most cities around the world and they help assign the right of way to drivers (and pedestrians) using the road. Today, not only does it control the flow of traffic, but it also hinders people from breaking the rules on the road. In some areas, red light cameras are used. There is an automated camera that is connected to the mechanism of the traffic light, that then takes a picture of whatever car that crosses the light. This red light camera replaces a policeman, when not present, so that the owner of the vehicle can be fined for the violation. These violations need to be enforced, otherwise people will make risky decisions on the road, that can result in many injuries and deaths. Here, technology is used as a tool for order, that can not as easily be controlled by human beings, especially when traffic is heavy.
Of course, I can always argue the other side and say that traffic lights do not save lives 100% of the time. There are people who choose to disobey the law and run a red light, which can result in a car accident. We really just have to trust that people will do the right thing. Technology can't stop people from doing what they do but it hopefully will make them think twice! Which is better than not thinking about it at all! I definitely think twice nowadays, knowing that some traffic lights might have cameras. I usually tend to speed up when it's yellow and I've gotten a ticket because I went through a red light just as it changed. Now since I know I can get caught with these cameras, I slow down at a yellow light, like I'm supposed to!
Also, there have been many times there have been technical difficulties when pertaining to traffic lights- when a light does not work. This can result in problems as well and then a police man is forced to do the work! I also thought of this little video I saw in one of my classes once that shows the failed use of technology! (The World's Worst Traffic Light-Russia) In addition to the wonderful use of technology, we clearly also need smart humans with brains to configure the set up of these things!



Sources:

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/trafficlight.htm

http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/newsletter/07-4/traffic_signals.php