The Woman Who Drew the Line
You've probably never heard of Dr. June
McCarroll, but she's truly a woman who left her mark on the
world. Born in Nebraska, she was a general practitioner who
lived in California. Interestingly enough, her claim to fame
lies outside the world of medicine. An accident was the
trigger that got her thinking about making our highways
safer. Her car was sideswiped, and she determined to do
something about cars that crowded others off the road.
Driving on a road that bulged down its centre, Dr. McCarroll
noticed that the bulge helped to keep motorists on their own
side of the road. That gave her an idea. She tried
persuading the town council to "paint a line down the middle
of the road" to set an example and "lead the nation in
public safety."
She got the typical bureaucratic response. However, she was
someone who would not take no for an answer. So she took her
idea to the local women's club. The vote was unanimous in
support of the project. Still, she continued to face
bureaucratic stubbornness for seven long years before her
idea was implemented.
In 1924 the California Highway Commission agreed to
experiment with a centreline on two sections of Route 99.
Accidents on both test stretches diminished dramatically,
and soon the entire state boasted McCarroll lines on its
highways. Most of the world has since followed suit.
Message: When you conceive an idea in which you fervently
believe, go after that idea, especially if people you
respect believe it's a good one.
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