Why do South Africans call stop lights "robots"?

A few of my friends called them that, from two different parts of the country. It was weird hearing one say to the other, “should we turn at that robot there?” when I was thinking, WTF? That’s a stoplight…I didn’t see a robot.

Answer #1

the red amber green stuff?

ive got no idea, we call them traffic lights.

Answer #2

They stop traffic by automation.

Answer #3

(like a traffic cop)

Answer #4

you know i never thought about this before! its quite funny now that you point it out. i call it a robot too:) i read somewhere that traffic lights are robot replacements for human traffic police, thats why we call it a robot?

Answer #5

I have no idea. Its just what we call them. Though if you talk about a stop light or a trafic light it wil also be understood. Even Afrikaan people call them robotte (robots). I suppose its just one of those things that makes our country unique. :-)

Answer #6

I also call them a robot. I believe the term comes from the Afrikaans word for it. We called it robots because it automatically stops traffic. Now it kinda stuck.

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