Two Life-Saving Lessons: A Journey from Carefree Driving to Responsible Ownership

On a frigid December night my roommate and I were driving through the darkness of Weber Canyon on our way back to Utah State University after a weekend visit home. The two of us had made the trip dozens of times. There was no apparent danger, as usual, so we found ourselves engaged in lighthearted conversation and listening to music. I remember feeling quite content in my warm car with the soft glow of the dashboard and the feeling of freedom any 18-year-old has as they go out on their own. All of that changed drastically as I rounded a sharp curve in the road and began to lose control of my little Saturn sedan. I was filled with confusion, frustration, and fear as the vehicle failed to respond to my adjustments on the steering wheel. I was no stranger to winter driving conditions and slippery roads, having grown up in an area of Wyoming where winter seemed to last 11 out of 12 months of the year. This was different from black ice or powerful winds. I tried to move the steering wheel, but the more I tried to get the car back on track the more difficult it became to move the wheel. Suddenly the 65-mile-per-hour car twisted on the road. Just as the car had made a full 180 degree turn it slammed into the left barrier of the highway. I remember watching my roommate, in the passenger seat, collapse into the side of the vehicle. Still with plenty of momentum, the little car bounced off the left barrier and continued to spin into the right barrier. It was as though some force was playing pinball with us on the road. With a final crunch into the right side barrier of the highway the car grinded to a stop.

The engine was still running and I put the car in gear, hoping to limp to the nearest gas station. As I eased out on the clutch and gave some gas the engine revved and the car attempted to move, but it was clear that we would never make it to any kind of civilization. My next instinct was to get out of the vehicle and assess the damage and my roommate decided to climb across the cab of the car and join me outside. It was clear that any real damage had occurred on the passenger side of the car which was currently pinned against a concrete barrier. We both realized that assessing the damage in the dark was pointless and decided to get back in the car. My heart sank when I tried to open the door and found it locked. While climbing out of the car one of us must have accidentally locked the door.

In a matter of less than five minutes we went from a care-free, fun drive to being stranded in 0 degree weather without a coat. Our situation could have been much more dire, but thanks to the bravery of a stranger and a series of miracles we were back at our dorm before the night was through. The repair shop where the tow truck had taken my car called a day or two later with an assessment of my vehicle and the cause of the accident. The cause was not poor driving, bad road conditions, or rough weather. The main bearing on the front passenger wheel had disintegrated and failed, having rusted through. It had caused the wheel to fall limp and fold under the car, making steering virtually impossible. The shop informed me that they were shocked the car did not roll because most drivers tend to slam and lock the brakes. As I received the news I thought back on the countless times I had personally changed the oil, replaced spark plugs, cleaned the air filter, and even put on new tires myself. I realized that during any one of these regular maintenance tasks a more trained eye might have noticed the issue developing and been able to prevent what could have easily been a lethal accident.

I learned two life-saving lessons from that experience. I’d like to describe them in hopes that it may also save someone else’s life.

Lesson one: take care of your vehicle. We all put our life in the hands of a mindless death machine when we drive. If that machine is compromised in any way, then it becomes even more dangerous. When you get behind the wheel of any vehicle, you should assume responsibility not only for its operation, but also its operability. This can seem like a burden, especially with the frequency at which we rent, borrow, or work in vehicles we do not own or maintain. If I had performed better inspections of my little Saturn or had a professional look it over more frequently, then my whole incident could have been avoided. I shudder to think of what may have happened if that highway in Weber Canyon had not been virtually vacant that winter night when an easily directed and relatively inexpensive repair turned into a life-threatening accident. Here are some basic preventative tasks any driver can and should do:

• Check the Oil

  • When: daily

  • Where: on the dipstick and on the ground beneath the vehicle

  • Why: Oil keeps the engine running smooth. Without the right amount engines can overheat and even seize

• Check Tire Pressure

  • When: at least monthly

  • Where: each wheel has a valve

  • Why: flat or low tires can cause you to lose control of the vehicle

• Check Brakes

  • When: every time you start to drive

  • Where: apply the brakes as you begin driving

  • Why: slowing and stopping is crucial to avoiding most accidents

• Check blinkers and lights

  • When: weekly

  • Where: each light on the front and back of the vehicle

  • Why: blinkers and lights are your only way of safely communicating with another drivers

• Check coolant

  • When: at least monthly

  • Where: in the coolant reservoir

  • Why: an overheated engine quickly turns you into a roadside hazard

• 100-point inspection

  • When: at least annually

  • Where: any certified professional mechanic

  • Why: professionals can see problems developing that we might not

It is easy to assume that a new or newer vehicle should not require so much attention, but brand-new parts fail every day even on the highest quality vehicles. In fact, newer and higher quality vehicles have much more complex systems creating even more opportunities for failure. Every driver owes it to their passengers and others on the road to ensure that their vehicle functions properly and as designed.

Lesson two: don’t stop learning to drive. Most of us will spend the vast majority of our miles on clean, dry pavement in manageable traffic conditions. It only takes one trip on one slick road to completely justify a lifetime of preparation. In Finland obtaining a class B drivers license requires especially advanced training. It actually requires incumbents to put a moving vehicle into a spin on a slick surface (ice) and recover properly and safely. While I was not on a slick surface that night years ago, my experience on icy roads still saved my roommate and I from ending up upside down in the middle of a dark highway. How can you improve your driving skills? Here are some ideas:

• Take drivers education seriously: state and school program curricula are based on real traffic data. They will help you develop skills proven and directly linked to preventing death and accidents on the road.

• Experience different terrain: try driving on gravel, dirt, snow, ice, mud, wet pavement, and any other surface you can think of. Pay attention to the different ways your vehicle responds.

• Practice driving in different natural conditions: Safely test your skills at night, in rain, snow, and fog. Note the difficulties and think of how to mitigate them. At the very least, be aware of conditions in which you struggle to drive.

• Practice driving in traffic: Learn how to merge on busy streets and discover how long it can take to navigate to an exit. Become comfortable estimating the speed of approaching traffic and your vehicle’s ability to accelerate.

• Experience different kinds of vehicles: First-hand experience operating larger vehicles (like trucks), smaller vehicles (like motorcycles), manual transmissions, and trailers will improve your manners on the road and may come in handy one day.

Falling into a false sense of security regarding your driving abilities is an effective way to be in an accident before you even realize it’s coming. Obtaining a license does not make you a great driver, it makes you an accountable driver. When you have a license to drive it means that you should be able to safely operate a motor vehicle and therefore will be held responsible to do so. Every other driver on the road is trusting you with their life, so you must educate and train yourself according to that responsibility.

I will never forget my accident in Weber Canyon. I will never forget how disappointed I was in myself for not taking better care of my vehicle and how I put my friend’s life at risk. I will also never forget how much worse it could have been without a substantial number of miracles and my own training. My hope is that this story will help you prevent trauma, damage, tragedy, and loss. I hope it will help you to understand your responsibility to be a safe and skilled driver.