All you ever wanted to know about Paris Traffic Lights!
Thursday, August 10, 2006 Posted by Eric
It's weird to see that despite the globalisation of the economy some things remain very local. Traffic lights (Feux rouges or Feux tricolores, in French) do belong to this category. First of all in Paris, they have this typical shape. Second, they are not located after the crossings like in the States but before. Third, they do not hang across the lanes but stand on the right sidewalk. In addition, they go directly from red to green unlike in other places where there is a transition to amber. Also, you are not allowed to turn right when it's red unless you see a little flashing amber arrow. Now the quiz part: when and where was the first automatic traffic light installed?
August 9, 2006 11:27:00 PM GMT+02:00
Do you mean the first traffic light in the world? No idea..lol
I suppose it was first used for trains, no?
Regarding the clouds on this artistical pic, one can be sure Eric took it today: the weather turns a bit wet in Paris.
August 9, 2006 11:51:00 PM GMT+02:00
Oh, cool! I love these things! I photographed a few of them, too, last time I was in Paris, because they really are so unique...
By the way, you should perhaps have added that for certain Parisian motorists, the red light is just a suggestion and it's a real good idea to watch the traffic more than the traffic lights over there, when you cross the street, so you don't get run over... People from the US are always amazed at the way the Parisians drive (and that's not necessarily a compliment ;)
August 9, 2006 11:54:00 PM GMT+02:00
I am really enjoying your blog. I spent three weeks in Paris last summer - ten days in Paris. France is such a lovely place. I think about Paris all the time.
August 9, 2006 11:59:00 PM GMT+02:00
Yes Haxo I meant in the world (I don't know the answer for France)
Tmate. So true! Although we do respect red traffic lights (OK we might not stop at amber...) unlike in some countries where I have been like for example Naples!
What we do not respect are the zebra crossings. That is pedestrians have to wait for the cars to go through before crossing, not the other way around...
Joannah. Thank you Joannah. Well you're in Long Beach california, it's not that bad either!
August 10, 2006 12:18:00 AM GMT+02:00
I remember driving in Paris, thinking I was going to absolutely cause an accident because of these lights. As it turns out, I made it through my time there in one piece.
August 10, 2006 2:17:00 AM GMT+02:00
From what I've found, the earliest electric traffic light was installed in 1912 in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA). Do I win a prize? An all expenses paid trip to Paris, perhaps? :)
August 10, 2006 2:44:00 AM GMT+02:00
Here in Chile, the transition is directly from red to green too.
I've been a little confused at first in some countries where I've driven because of these kind of differences.
Ah!, and btw, the first traffic light were installed outside the British Houses of Parliament in London on 10 December 1868 (thanks Wikipedia!)
August 10, 2006 3:51:00 AM GMT+02:00
The trick part of the question is "automatic" traffic lights. According to www.DidYouKnow.cd Garrett Morgan invented them in 1920 and they were first used in Cleveland, Ohio. The part I liked was the tidbit that the first traffic lights were manual controlled lanterns pre-dating the automobile in 1868. They were used to control the flow of horse buggies in London.
August 10, 2006 5:01:00 AM GMT+02:00
thanks, I'll remember this if ever I visit your beautiful city,
its differnt from here !
August 10, 2006 5:33:00 AM GMT+02:00
I'm not sure anyone will agree on a final answer but here's my 2 cents.
The world's first traffic lights were installed near London's House of Commons (intersection of George and Bridge Streets) in 1868. They were invented by J P Knight.
Among the many early traffic signals or lights created the following are noted:
* Earnest Sirrine of Chicago, Illinois patented perhaps the first automatic street traffic system in 1910. Sirrine's system used the non illuminated words "stop" and "proceed".
* Lester Wire of Salt Lake City, Utah invented an electric traffic light in 1912 that used red and green lights.
* James Hoge patented manually controlled traffic lights in 1913, which were installed in Cleveland, Ohio a year later by the American Traffic Signal Company. Hoge's electric-powered lights used the illuminated words "stop" and "move".
* William Ghiglieri of San Francisco, California patented perhaps the first automatic traffic signal using colored lights (red and green) in 1917. Ghiglieri's traffic signal had the option of being either manual or automatic.
* Around 1920, William Potts a Detroit policeman, invented several automatic electric traffic light systems including an overhanging four-way, red, green, and yellow light system. The first to use a yellow light.
* Garrett Morgan was issued a patent for an inexpensive to produce manual traffic signal in 1923.
August 10, 2006 6:18:00 AM GMT+02:00
Thanks for the info. We actually posted a street sign/ traffic light picture today. Ours is far less informative however. Thanks for the great blog as always.
August 10, 2006 6:50:00 AM GMT+02:00
Just saw OC Photo's traffic light as well....freaky that you both thought of the same thing. I'll let the rest of you sort out the hisotrical aspects of this object, I'd like to know what percentage of the world's population "respect" the lights!
August 10, 2006 7:59:00 AM GMT+02:00
Love the angle of your photo and all the information.
Red light. . .green light! Perhaps US residents remember that childhood game?
-Kim
August 10, 2006 9:46:00 AM GMT+02:00
Fun post and good picture. I now know more about early traffic lights than I'll ever need!
August 10, 2006 11:38:00 AM GMT+02:00
I found the following website about traffic lights:
http://www33.brinkster.com/iiiii/trfclt/
Fun to read, it has nice pictures and may add some more info, in addition to all other comments.
Hans
August 10, 2006 1:54:00 PM GMT+02:00
And the winner is... Denton! Yes like he said the tricky part was the word "Automatic"!
Sorry Buzz girl, no free trip to Paris this time... (And Denton, no free trop for you either! It's a French game: you play for the sake of playing, not to win prizes! LOL)
August 10, 2006 5:19:00 PM GMT+02:00
Funny and interesting indeed !
And nice shot with the clouds.
August 10, 2006 5:26:00 PM GMT+02:00
Hi Eric
Here, traffic lights have amber between red and green. But drivers think that amber is red or green, it depends if they are hurry.
Greetings from Perú
August 10, 2006 5:41:00 PM GMT+02:00
Eric said... "Denton...It's a French game: you play for the sake of playing, not to win prizes!"
Somebody better tell Zidane that!
August 10, 2006 6:12:00 PM GMT+02:00
Eric said... "Denton...It's a French game: you play for the sake of playing, not to win prizes!"
Somebody better tell Zidane that!
Damn, that's EXACTLY what I was going to say!!! Wow.
August 10, 2006 6:20:00 PM GMT+02:00
It's the time difference between SF and Paris Tomate, that's all! ;-)
August 10, 2006 7:05:00 PM GMT+02:00
Bonjour Eric! Please, could you tell us what's going on in front of the Hotel De Ville?
http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=http://paris.ville.orange.fr/cgi/direct_webcam.php?id=27
Thank you, Eric! Gros Bisous!
August 10, 2006 7:09:00 PM GMT+02:00
Michael: there is a time difference?
;-)
August 10, 2006 7:14:00 PM GMT+02:00
Suzy...hope you don't mind me answering (I'll let you save the Gros Bisous for Eric!), but I think you're looking at the beach volleyball they have set up in conjunction with the Paris Plage along the Seine (in the background to the right).
August 10, 2006 8:20:00 PM GMT+02:00
Thank you, Michael! I can spare a couple of gros bisous for you, too. :-* :-*
(And it looks like my link didn't take you to the Hotel De Ville webcam - my bad.)
August 10, 2006 8:57:00 PM GMT+02:00
i just found your blog! This is delightful- and brings back very good memories as i lived in Deuil-la-Barre for two years some time ago.
Merci,
laura
August 10, 2006 9:20:00 PM GMT+02:00
Thanks for the bises Suzy. Yes, I saw the Hotel de Ville webcam and see the sand pits where they have the volleyball set up. Maybe someone else can verify?
August 10, 2006 9:35:00 PM GMT+02:00
Suzie, the link was perfect and I even bookmarked it so I can daydream about Paris more often while sitting at the computer ;) , so thank you for that! :-D
I do, too, think you are looking at an extension of Paris Plage. I believe they do that every year, now.
Do I get gros bisous, too? Never mind, just kidding ;)
August 10, 2006 10:41:00 PM GMT+02:00
Good evening - as visitors to Paris we can attest to the irregularity of attention to traffic signals and signs by drivers (and pietons). We are also enjoying the November weather, even though the calendar says it is August. Paris Plage must be pretty much of a bust, by now!
(Staying in the 4th, a few blocks from the Seine)
August 10, 2006 10:46:00 PM GMT+02:00
So jpmcdonough, can you confirm the sandy volleyball courts in front of the Hotel de Ville or is the brown colour really autumn leaves?
August 10, 2006 11:25:00 PM GMT+02:00
Tomate, I just opened my window and blew gros bisous straight over the bay to you.
August 11, 2006 7:08:00 AM GMT+02:00
what a perspective, Eric!!
August 11, 2006 5:57:00 PM GMT+02:00
Awww, thanks, Suzy!
August 22, 2006 9:20:00 PM GMT+02:00
In the US the transition is from Green > Amber > Red. Nowhere in the US is there amber after a red before green starts. In otherwords driving in Paris is much the same as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are pedestrians who walk mid-block across traffic, people who only slow for red and don't stop and who turn right on a red without even slowing!
We love Paris and love your blog!
September 8, 2006 5:45:00 PM GMT+02:00
And did you know that when you want to cross the street as a pedestrian, when the little man becomes red, you still have the time to cross the street before it becomes green for the cars, it is calculated as a security i think. I already tried many times and even when walking normally (no hurry) you have enough time (but when the man just became red)
It is good to know when you are late and don't feel like waiting
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