So many things we take for granted.

When was the last time you looked at your windscreen wiper and thought about its origins?

Probably never.

The humble but life-saving windscreen wiper had its birth 116 years ago in 1903.

The designer was Josef Hoffman, a Polish concert pianist and inventor, although some dispute exists.

Another first was central locking, something relatively modern you'd think.

No, central locking first appeared 104 years ago in 1915 on a Scripps-Booth.

The first car radio saw the light of day in 1922 in a T Model Ford.

Run flat tyres seem a modern phenomenon, but no again, Michelin developed them in 1934 based on experience with tyres for the Paris Metro Rail Line.

Related:

One of my personal dislikes is bus lanes, the first in Chicago in 1940.

Finally, a bane for motorists but a life-saver - the speed camera first appeared in 1958 from an unlikely source.

Dutch rally driver Maurice Gatsonides wanted to monitor his speed on a race track in a better way than with a stopwatch.

So he built and designed the first speed camera.

All my facts come from a very good little book entitled Myth-Busting Motoring Milestones - First Gear by Keith Ray.

Thank you to Pitstop Bookshop, who have given me the book for review.

I have five any day double passes valued at over $200 a pair to giveaway for Summernats in Canberra between the January 2-5, 2020.

To be in the draw to win a double pass send an email to me at goodsell@pnc.com.au

Winners will receive their passes electronically.

Motoring news locally every Saturday at 5am on 101.5 Great Lakes FM and 10am on 106.5 Rhema FM.

Also Sunday 2pm on 103.3 2TLP and 2pm every Tuesday on 101.5 Great Lakes FM.

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