The ACCIDENTAL DISCOVERY That Changed Roads FOREVER!

Tarmac, a common road material, was accidentally invented in 1902 by Edgar Hulie. Before tarmac, roads were made using a method called "macadam," which used crushed stone and stone dust. However, with the invention of cars, the stone dust would fly off, ruining the roads. Edgar Hulie discovered tarmac when he saw a smooth patch of road where tar and waste slag had accidentally mixed and hardened. This gave him the idea to use tar and waste slag instead of stone dust. He patented his invention, and the first tarmac road was built in Nottingham. Although Edgar was not a successful businessman, his invention changed road construction forever.