The Traffic Light Was Invented by Garrett Morgan

Garrett Morgan, an African American inventor, patented the three-position traffic signal in 1923. Before his invention, traffic signals only had two positions (stop and go), causing dangerous situations when vehicles had to suddenly stop. Morgan's design added a third "warning" position, allowing drivers time to slow down. He later sold the patent to General Electric for $40,000. Morgan also invented the safety hood (precursor to gas masks) that he used to rescue workers from a tunnel explosion in Cleveland in 1916.