How cat's eyes were invented
In 1934, Percy Shaw invented cat's eyes, the reflective studs in the road
Witness History · BBC World Service
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (open.live.bbc.co.uk) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In 1934, the late Percy Shaw almost crashed while driving home from the pub on a foggy night in West Yorkshire, in England.
He was saved when his headlights were reflected in the eyes of a cat and it gave him a brilliant idea.
He invented reflective studs for the road and called them cat’s eyes.
Rachel Naylor speaks to Percy's great-niece, Glenda Shaw.
(Photo: Percy Shaw holding one of his cat's eyes, outside his factory in Halifax, England, in 1958. Credit: Getty Images)