6 Happy motoring

Chapter 6 Happy motoring? Not another nail! More and more people took to the roads, but the roads weren't ready for them. Nails from horseshoes littered the rough surfaces and punctures were common.

Even worse, with no road signs drivers didn't know what was coming next, so lots of cars crashed or veered into hedgerows. Yikes! Road by road, teams of workers smoothed out the bumps and covered the surfaces with tar and gravel. Huge signs were set up along the way, to warn drivers of hidden dips and bends.

The police wanted traffic signals too. In 1868, a traffic light had been invented to control horse- drawn carriages. Red on one side and green on the other, it seemed like a great idea... until a London policeman tried to turn it around. BANG! For the next 50 years, most traffic signals were simply wooden arms on sticks. Arms out meant stop, arms in meant go.

But drivers were still confused at junctions. Stop! Finally, in 1920, a set of traffic lights was invented that really worked.

Over time, roads grew safer and so did cars. In 1903, a new British law said cars must have two lamps at the front and one at the back. Two years later, the car bumper was invented. No harm done!

Cars also became easier to use. Instead of getting arm ache cranking the engine, drivers just had to press a starter switch. And, rather than pulling over because of the rain, most cars now had windscreens with wipers. You need a new car!