On this day, Garrett T. Morgan, a Black American inventor and entrepreneur, was granted U.S. Patent No. 1,475,024 for his innovative three-position traffic signal. While not the first traffic light ever invented, Morgan’s design introduced a third “caution” signal — a crucial improvement over earlier two-light systems (Stop and Go). This middle position helped reduce accidents by warning drivers to slow down, and laid the foundation for the modern traffic light system used around the world today.
Morgan is also known for inventing a safety hood (gas mask) used by firefighters and rescuers, notably during the 1916 Lake Erie tunnel rescue.
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