March is Women’s History month! From inventions to new laws, women have had a big impact on the history of driving. As a way to wrap up Women’s History Month, here are three interesting things you may not have known about women in the history of driving!
1. Mary Anderson created the first windshield wiper.
The windshield wiper is something most of us use without giving it much thought. Imagine a world without windshield wipers. We wouldn’t be able to go anywhere unless the weather was perfect that day! Thankfully, Mary Anderson devised the first operational windscreen wiper back in 1903. It was operated by a lever from inside the vehicle. Anderson had a model created, and she received a US Patent for her design in 1903. Next time you’re driving in the rain, remember Mary Anderson’s contribution!
2. Three sisters lobbied for a state road-rage law in Indiana.
There are many stories where people work hard to get certain laws passed after their loved ones were killed. One such story is Indiana’s Lindsay’s law. Lindsay was driving on the interstate outside of Indianapolis when an aggressive driver caused her to lose control of her vehicle, cross over the median, and into oncoming traffic, where she crashed head-on into a pickup truck. Lindsay and her passenger, Kevin Gregg, were both killed. When this happened in 2004, Indiana didn’t have a law in place to prosecute aggressive drivers. Lindsay’s three sisters fought for the law to be passed. Lindsay’s law makes sure aggressive drivers in Indiana receive harsher punishments for aggressive driving acts.
3. Alice Ramsey was the first woman to drive across the United States.
Driving across the country is quite an undertaking, even with the modern technology we have today. Way back in 1909, a 22-year-old named Alice Ramsey was the first woman to drive across the country. In fact, with her three passengers Nettie Powel, Margaret Atwood, and Hermine Jahns, it was the first all-female cross-country road trip! Their trip took 59 days and spanned 3,800 miles.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg of incredible contributions women have made to the history of driving. Do you know any interesting stories of women in the transportation world? Share them with us on Facebook! Click here to visit our website.
March is Women’s History month! From inventions to new laws, women have had a big impact on the history of driving. As a way to wrap up Women’s History Month, here are three interesting things you may not have known about women in the history of driving!