Definitely a favourite inventor of mine, he is someone I would have really liked to talk to!
As the first black person in Ohio to own a motor car, Garret saw an horrific road traffic accident at a junction which made him realise that the current road traffic light system were not enough to ensure road safety for motorists or pedestrians.
After having a closer look at the traffic light system in place at the time he came up with the system we know today which gives forewarning of the impending light change (amber), giving road users the chance to break in time before the lights turn to Red. A simple change but a significant one and one which has saved countless lives.
He had the ability to think outside the box, a cliché I know, but, in order to come up brilliant inventions or designs you need this quality in abundance.
Garret filled for the Patent in 1923 which was granted the following year.
Garrets other influential invention was the first breathing apparatus for Fire Fighters, his invention was not welcomed by the US Fire Department because he was Black, it was only when Garret and his brother went into a burning building wearing the apparatus and successfully rescued two people who had been trapped inside.
More lives could have been saved had it not been for the racist short sightedness of the US Fire Department.
Garret went on to design more useful products which are worth looking up.
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