Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    12:38 PM

GasBuddy News Article

51
votes
Utah celebrates 100th anniversary of our nation's first traffic signal

GasBuddy Blog -- If someone were to ask me where I thought the first traffic signal was put to use in the U.S., I have to say that Salt Lake City wouldn't make my list even if I was given 10 or 15 guesses.

But apparently, Utah is laying claim to putting into operation the first functioning traffic signal in the U.S.

According to folks at the Utah Dept. of Transportation (UDOT), the invention of the traffic light came about 100 years ago and it belongs to Lester Wire, a police officer in Salt Lake City who they said had grown troubled by the congestion and danger developing from traffic at one of the city's busier intersections.

The Salt Lake City Tribune reports that Wire’s invention looked like a large birdhouse with lights...


Read the Full Article

Submitted Oct 11, 2012 By: PD
Category: GasBuddy Official Blog > Topics Add to favorite topics   Post new topicPost New Topic
Author Topic: Utah celebrates 100th anniversary of our nation's first traffic signal Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
Profile Pic
Karisholman
Veteran Author Nevada

Posts:281
Points:168,160
Joined:Oct 2012
Message Posted: Oct 13, 2012 3:15:05 AM

This is odd. It seems strange that an officer would stand next to it to operate other than personally direct traffic. It might be safer, though.
Profile Pic
spiderjay
Champion Author Little Rock

Posts:4,773
Points:1,282,235
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 2:21:55 PM

saves on whistle blowing
Profile Pic
spiderjay
Champion Author Little Rock

Posts:4,773
Points:1,282,235
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 2:17:38 PM

it had to start somewhere
Profile Pic
SUPPER
Champion Author San Bernardino

Posts:2,462
Points:1,285,695
Joined:Dec 2004
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 8:16:58 AM

So
Profile Pic
cehend
Champion Author Maryland

Posts:1,725
Points:461,525
Joined:Jan 2011
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 6:32:25 AM

traffic lights are a pain!
Profile Pic
jcdakota
Champion Author Baltimore

Posts:1,347
Points:361,345
Joined:Nov 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 5:26:56 AM

Did we celebrate by hanging in effigy the inventer?
Profile Pic
Hop1LA
Champion Author Baton Rouge

Posts:3,299
Points:1,173,570
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 5:03:16 AM

Blame Utah for wasting gas at stop lights ;)
Profile Pic
swede
Champion Author Cleveland

Posts:3,752
Points:1,673,075
Joined:Feb 2003
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 5:03:09 AM

old news
Profile Pic
lindact
Champion Author New Haven

Posts:8,721
Points:1,714,045
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 5:02:22 AM

Nice bit of nostalgia...
Profile Pic
rippinusoff
Champion Author Lexington

Posts:7,393
Points:1,485,075
Joined:May 2007
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:57:56 AM

ok, this article helped me save gas
Profile Pic
Lengas
Champion Author Gary

Posts:13,535
Points:2,714,850
Joined:Nov 2004
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:56:39 AM

Hard to believe. I'm 71 and remember seeing many traffic lights as a little kid.
Profile Pic
Yankee829
Champion Author Dallas

Posts:2,191
Points:555,815
Joined:Sep 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:56:27 AM

Old...
Profile Pic
smqua
Champion Author Cleveland

Posts:1,676
Points:583,030
Joined:Mar 2011
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:56:01 AM

Big deal
Profile Pic
jhnh
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:2,477
Points:1,623,775
Joined:Nov 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:56:00 AM

ok
Profile Pic
Jmac2008
Champion Author Missouri

Posts:2,254
Points:877,140
Joined:Dec 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:55:49 AM

ok
Profile Pic
kzza100
Champion Author New Jersey

Posts:1,948
Points:571,820
Joined:Sep 2011
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:55:45 AM

ok
Profile Pic
ILVET
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:14,779
Points:2,922,690
Joined:Jan 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:55:17 AM

Lets move on
Profile Pic
indyjim
Champion Author Indianapolis

Posts:10,076
Points:2,316,505
Joined:Jul 2006
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:55:00 AM

whoopy
Profile Pic
racerdj
Champion Author Indianapolis

Posts:9,800
Points:2,053,650
Joined:Jun 2003
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:54:28 AM

Yesterdays news.
Profile Pic
neptune2008
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:8,558
Points:1,666,800
Joined:Aug 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:54:12 AM

they did, did they?
Profile Pic
99dakota
Champion Author Providence

Posts:8,097
Points:2,170,075
Joined:Oct 2006
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:53:46 AM

ok
Profile Pic
Jeffro61
Champion Author Cleveland

Posts:2,252
Points:2,281,870
Joined:Oct 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:52:51 AM

Ok
Profile Pic
warlord1
Champion Author Georgia

Posts:5,235
Points:1,032,050
Joined:May 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:52:09 AM

ok
Profile Pic
sramroop
Champion Author Birmingham

Posts:3,302
Points:736,930
Joined:Jul 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:51:25 AM

Repeat
Profile Pic
TommyTraveler
Champion Author Cincinnati

Posts:8,664
Points:1,695,380
Joined:Nov 2007
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:51:11 AM

thoufght Cleveland, Ohio had traffic lights 1st?
Profile Pic
bababooey2
Champion Author Hartford

Posts:6,337
Points:1,299,915
Joined:Sep 2009
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:50:37 AM

cool
Profile Pic
LeeFree
Champion Author Pittsburgh

Posts:9,136
Points:2,240,525
Joined:Jun 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:50:09 AM

Great piece of trivea.
Profile Pic
hybridaholic
Champion Author Appleton

Posts:8,350
Points:1,552,890
Joined:Dec 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:49:04 AM

ok
Profile Pic
mnrick041
Champion Author Twin Cities

Posts:14,285
Points:1,365,535
Joined:Jun 2009
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:48:22 AM

Thanks Lester.
Profile Pic
Harry813
Champion Author Iowa

Posts:2,990
Points:658,940
Joined:Jul 2011
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:48:22 AM

Wow.... ?
Profile Pic
jeff95519
Champion Author California

Posts:2,437
Points:1,351,315
Joined:Sep 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:44:58 AM

ok so what
Profile Pic
jcurley
Champion Author California

Posts:7,881
Points:1,772,120
Joined:Dec 2007
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:43:39 AM

And tickets for running the red light?
Profile Pic
Boo1989
Champion Author Atlanta

Posts:7,158
Points:1,346,605
Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:43:14 AM

This relates to gas prices how???
Profile Pic
millerin
Champion Author Orlando

Posts:2,295
Points:478,440
Joined:Jan 2012
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:41:56 AM

hmm...
Profile Pic
gabisgram
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:2,181
Points:909,325
Joined:Sep 2006
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:41:42 AM

Well, there ya' go.
Profile Pic
kirzon484
Champion Author Atlanta

Posts:1,851
Points:430,110
Joined:Jun 2011
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:41:42 AM

how soon we forget
Profile Pic
isem
Champion Author Missouri

Posts:1,911
Points:420,260
Joined:Feb 2012
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:41:31 AM

Déjà vu
Profile Pic
KhelbenArunson
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:4,430
Points:714,940
Joined:Apr 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:41:22 AM

ok
Profile Pic
Chem60
Champion Author Tallahassee

Posts:3,801
Points:810,125
Joined:Oct 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:40:54 AM

Yawn, really? Zzzzzz...
Profile Pic
AvantiMick
Champion Author Indiana

Posts:12,727
Points:2,539,620
Joined:Dec 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:40:23 AM

Could not live another day without knowing that!
Profile Pic
Dailyrun
Champion Author Kentucky

Posts:1,967
Points:385,915
Joined:Apr 2012
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:40:16 AM

alright
Profile Pic
BEngr
Champion Author Illinois

Posts:6,696
Points:1,576,940
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:40:04 AM

Who would have guessed Utah, not me.
Profile Pic
harleydoctor
Champion Author Kansas

Posts:7,330
Points:1,925,660
Joined:Sep 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:39:27 AM

Thats good to know now give me another Bud......
Profile Pic
epf
Champion Author Grand Rapids

Posts:6,319
Points:1,888,430
Joined:May 2004
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:37:56 AM

Great trivia question!
Profile Pic
tomok
Champion Author Portland

Posts:32,931
Points:2,342,585
Joined:Aug 2006
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:37:37 AM

Read Light?
Profile Pic
4bobux
Champion Author Peoria

Posts:1,962
Points:409,230
Joined:Mar 2012
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:34:36 AM

AW, how cute... who cares?
Profile Pic
Foxt
Champion Author Minnesota

Posts:5,245
Points:2,017,405
Joined:Jul 2006
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:34:09 AM

Anniversary for the first ticket for running a read light must be just around the corner.
Profile Pic
RADIOCANADA499
Champion Author Ontario

Posts:2,316
Points:772,930
Joined:Aug 2005
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:34:03 AM

ok
Profile Pic
hawkman1950
Champion Author Michigan

Posts:2,609
Points:537,630
Joined:Aug 2010
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:34:00 AM

Big deal.
Profile Pic
FMREALTOR
Champion Author Florida

Posts:6,390
Points:1,694,080
Joined:Jan 2007
Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 4:33:31 AM

Wow, interesting stuff. What does this have to do with GAS PRICES?
Post a reply Back to Topics