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There is some dispute as to who really invented traffic lights. Police officer William L Potts is credited with developing the system of lights to control the increasing numbers of automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, but others had similar ideas before him. The world's very first traffic light was operating in London, England, even before the advent of the automobile. Installed at a London intersection in 1868, it was a revolving gas-lit lantern with red and green signals. However, on 2 January 1869, the light exploded, injuring the policeman who was operating it. Actually, the traffic light concept was invented in the early 1900s by Garrett Morgan, an African-American living in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the one who developed the electric automatic traffic light. This was before Potts's first invention was installed in 1920. Originally based on a semaphore-system, traffic lights gradually evolved through the years to become the red-amber-green lights they are today - and this is where Potts's invention had its influence.

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Who inspired William L potts to invent the traffic light?

How did William L Potts come up with the traffic lights?=who inspired William L Potts?=


Did William l potts invent the traffic lights?

He invented the traffic life because he was disturbed by the number of car accidents over the years. he wanted drivers to be moresafe,and to wast money.......


Who invented the automatic traffic light?

William L. Potts


Who invented the electric traffic light?

William L. Potts


Where did William L Potts make the traffic light?

William L. Potts invented the first manually operated traffic light in Detroit, Michigan in 1920. He installed the traffic light at the intersection of Woodward and Michigan Avenues.


Where the worlds first traffic lights?

Invented by a police officer named William Potts, it was installed at the corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenues in Detroit, Michigan, in 1920.


Where was the worlds first traffic lights?

Invented by a police officer named William Potts, it was installed at the corner of Woodward and Michigan Avenues in Detroit, Michigan, in 1920.


Did a black man invent the traffic light?

A police office named William Potts of Detroit Michigan in 1920 invented the traffic signal. His race is not mentioned.


Was William potts black?

William Potts Was in fact Black!


The year of the first trafftic light invention?

The first traffic light was invented in 1903 by William L. Potts.


When was William Potts Dewees born?

William Potts Dewees was born in 1768.


When did William Potts Dewees die?

William Potts Dewees died in 1841.