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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...


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Submitted Oct 11, 2012 By: PD
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Author Topic: Utah celebrates 100th anniversary of our nation's first traffic signal Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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Karisholman
Veteran Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 10:15:05 PM

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.
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spiderjay
Champion Author Little Rock

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 9:21:55 AM

saves on whistle blowing
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spiderjay
Champion Author Little Rock

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 9:17:38 AM

it had to start somewhere
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SUPPER
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 3:16:58 AM

So
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cehend
Champion Author Maryland

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 1:32:25 AM

traffic lights are a pain!
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jcdakota
Champion Author Baltimore

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 12:26:56 AM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 12:03:16 AM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 12:03:09 AM

old news
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lindact
Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Oct 12, 2012 12:02:22 AM

Nice bit of nostalgia...
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rippinusoff
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:57:56 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:56:39 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:56:27 PM

Old...
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smqua
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:56:01 PM

Big deal
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jhnh
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:56:00 PM

ok
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Jmac2008
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:55:49 PM

ok
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kzza100
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:55:45 PM

ok
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ILVET
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:55:17 PM

Lets move on
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indyjim
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:55:00 PM

whoopy
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racerdj
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:54:28 PM

Yesterdays news.
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neptune2008
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:54:12 PM

they did, did they?
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99dakota
Champion Author Providence

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:53:46 PM

ok
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Jeffro61
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:52:51 PM

Ok
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warlord1
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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:52:09 PM

ok
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sramroop
Champion Author Birmingham

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:51:25 PM

Repeat
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TommyTraveler
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:51:11 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:50:37 PM

cool
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LeeFree
Champion Author Pittsburgh

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:50:09 PM

Great piece of trivea.
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hybridaholic
Champion Author Appleton

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:49:04 PM

ok
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mnrick041
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:48:22 PM

Thanks Lester.
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Harry813
Champion Author Iowa

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:48:22 PM

Wow.... ?
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jeff95519
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:44:58 PM

ok so what
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jcurley
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:43:39 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:43:14 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:41:56 PM

hmm...
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gabisgram
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:41:42 PM

Well, there ya' go.
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kirzon484
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:41:42 PM

how soon we forget
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isem
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:41:31 PM

Déjà vu
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KhelbenArunson
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:41:22 PM

ok
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Chem60
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:40:54 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:40:23 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:40:16 PM

alright
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BEngr
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:40:04 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:39:27 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:37:56 PM

Great trivia question!
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:37:37 PM

Read Light?
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4bobux
Champion Author Peoria

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:34:36 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:34:09 PM

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

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:34:03 PM

ok
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hawkman1950
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:34:00 PM

Big deal.
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FMREALTOR
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Oct 11, 2012 11:33:31 PM

Wow, interesting stuff. What does this have to do with GAS PRICES?
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