William Phelps Eno
Encyclopedia
William Phelps Eno was an American
businessman responsible for many of the earliest innovations in road safety and traffic control. He is sometimes known as the "Father of traffic safety", despite never having learned to drive a car himself.
He graduated from Yale University
in 1882, where he had been a member of Skull and Bones
.
Though automobile
s were rare until Eno was an older man, horse-drawn carriages were already causing significant traffic problems in urban areas like Eno's home town of New York City
. In 1900, he wrote a piece on traffic safety entitled Reform in Our Street Traffic Urgently Needed. In 1903, he wrote a city traffic code for New York, the first such code in the world. He designed traffic plans for New York, London, and Paris.
Among the innovations credited to Eno are the stop sign
, the pedestrian crosswalk, the traffic circle
, the one-way street, the taxi stand
, and pedestrian safety islands.
In 1921 Eno founded the Eno Foundation for Highway Traffic Control, today known as the Eno Transportation Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and promoting transportation safety. Eno was one of the first honorary members of the Institute of Transportation Engineers
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman responsible for many of the earliest innovations in road safety and traffic control. He is sometimes known as the "Father of traffic safety", despite never having learned to drive a car himself.
He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1882, where he had been a member of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
.
Though automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s were rare until Eno was an older man, horse-drawn carriages were already causing significant traffic problems in urban areas like Eno's home town of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1900, he wrote a piece on traffic safety entitled Reform in Our Street Traffic Urgently Needed. In 1903, he wrote a city traffic code for New York, the first such code in the world. He designed traffic plans for New York, London, and Paris.
Among the innovations credited to Eno are the stop sign
Stop sign
A Stop sign is a traffic sign to notify drivers that they must stop before proceeding.-Specifications:The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals proposed standard stop sign diameters of 0.6, 0.9 or 1.2 metres. UK and New Zealand stop signs are 750, 900 or 1200 mm, according to sign...
, the pedestrian crosswalk, the traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
, the one-way street, the taxi stand
Taxi stand
A taxicab stand is a queue area on a street or on private property where taxicabs line up to wait for passengers.-How stands work:...
, and pedestrian safety islands.
In 1921 Eno founded the Eno Foundation for Highway Traffic Control, today known as the Eno Transportation Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying and promoting transportation safety. Eno was one of the first honorary members of the Institute of Transportation Engineers
Institute of Transportation Engineers
The Institute of Transportation Engineers or ITE is an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals who are responsible for meeting mobility and safety needs. ITE was founded in 1930 as the Institute of Traffic Engineers and its first president was Ernest P...
.
Further reading
- John A. Montgomery, Eno — The Man and the Foundation: A Chronicle of Transportation, 1988
External links
- www.snopes.com - page on William Phelps Eno
- Time Magazine archives - free registration required - Phelps' obituary notice in the December 17, 1945 issue (bottom of page.)
- Eno Transportation Foundation website
- The Eno House Fiasco Plan to move Eno mansion fails, saving Sherwood Island State Park from development