On 9 December 1868, history witnessed a pivotal moment in urban planning as the first traffic lights were installed outside the Palace of Westminster in London.
Designed to resemble railway signals, these pioneering devices featured semaphore arms to direct day-time traffic, while red and green gas lamps illuminated the night, ensuring visibility and safety.
This innovation, though short-lived due to a gas explosion a month later, marked the beginning of modern traffic management systems.
