Ever heard of an actress called Florence Lawrence?
No, she has not played the role of a superhero but has an interesting claim to fame. Do you know of this silent-film movie star sort of, roughly, invented the first auto signalling arm, which is a mechanical turn signal, along with the first mechanical brake signal?
This was back in 1914 when driving had become a symbol of women’s liberation. Her idea was for the signalling arm, which, when placed on the back of the fender, could be raised or lowered by electrical push buttons.
Back then there were also alternative systems of hand signals and remain common for bicycles.
Lawrence’s device was never patented and so she has become lost in the annals of auto history.
According to records, in 1909, a British man named Percy Douglas-Hamilton patented a set of hands, one attached to each side of the car, which could be illuminated to indicate a coming turn.
The idea of a turning signal, or indicator, on a car, has therefore been with us for a while. Amazing right?
More patents followed over time. Apparently, in 1925, Edgar Walz Jr, patented a light with two arrows and a brake light, while in the late 1930s, Joseph Bell patented the first electrical device that flashed and then in 1939, Buick introduced turn signals as a standard feature.
Still, electrical turn signals didn’t become widespread until the early to mid-1950s. Before then, a host of makeshift and accessory devices, as well as hand signals, sufficed.
About a hundred years ago, therefore, there were people who thought it was a good idea to introduce some sort of signalling light, activated by the driver, to advertise intent to turn or change lanes.
So why are we talking about turning signals? Surely we can talk about the commission of inquiry into state capture, or how the government is failing to provide adequate service delivery in Boksburg.
The festive season is upon us, and while this is a jolly time of cheer and spending far too much money, it is also a sad time of carnage on the roads.
With this in mind, it is, therefore, a good time to talk about safety on the roads, because the reality is that throughout the year it seems many motorists continue to drive with negligent abandon, disobeying rules of the road and putting people’s lives in danger.
This is therefore not just a festive season concern, but a daily occurrence of nightmare proportions.
Yes, a lot of accidents are caused by speed or by intoxicated motorists, but the truth is that daily in cities and towns it seems people just don’t really care about how they drive.
The history of the turn signal has been mentioned for a reason. Back then in the days of WWI (World War 1), it was deemed important, but today indicators are hardly even used properly, yet they exist for a very important reason.
Let us also be honest, there are those who think they are driving on a Kyalami track, pretending to be Formula One drivers.
There is a reason for speed limits on the city roads, but no, a crazy need for speed has invaded our mindsets. And when you stick to the rules of the road, then you are the guilty party, resulting in motorist turning into road bullies.
Everyone witnessed the craziness at traffic circles, where clearly some do not know how it works. You have to wonder if we as motorists even know the rules of the road, of the importance of using indicators, or the necessity to stick to speed limits.
Maybe a great Christmas gift will be an instruction manual on road safety – with colourful pictures.
Or, maybe, it is just a case of motorists not really caring how they drive, and I’m not talking just about taxis. Do we still even remotely regard the interest of other motorists, and respect, on the road?
Yes, speed kills, but so does recklessness and carelessness.
So wherever you travel, be it in the city on the highway, please respect other motorists, consider the speed limit, consider the rules of the road and please remember the indicator that Lawrence made possible.
ALSO READ:
The world longs for a hero to save us from the chaos
Follow us:
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
