[1] Peglau wanted to create a traffic light that would be both appealing to children, yet easily accessible and understandable for elderly Germans.

[1] The Ampelmännchen, which is widely beloved in the former German Democratic Republic,[2] is one of the symbols which still "enjoy the privileged status of being one of the few features of East Germany to have survived the end of the Iron Curtain with his popularity unscathed.

[4] An increase in cars and traffic volume in the communist-ruled East Germany had made the streets more dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

[4] Peglau designed the glass human figures for the stop (red) and go (green) lights on the traffic signal in 1961, which became known as the Ampelmännchen.

[4] In an interview with the Berliner Zeitung, Heckhausen recalled that Peglau would come to the Ampelmann Ltd. design studio once a week to brainstorm on new products and work with other staff.

[3] Heckhausen stated that Peglau found it unusual that the company was able to create consumer products, such as T-shirts and bags, out of his traffic safety ideas.

[4] Peglau spent nearly 20 years following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany working on his iconic Ampelmännchen designs.