Crazy Driving

In February 2015, my son and I were traveling from Washington DC to Norfolk, Virginia. Normally this trip takes three hours but we got caught in a snow/ice storm and we finally reached our destination after 12½ hours of white knuckle driving.

At one point we were going 18 mph and in a period of 45 minutes we passed eight cars, trucks, and an eighteen-wheeler that had slid off the road. We decided that three factors contributed to this problem: 1) excessive speed; 2) over confidence by the driver; and 3) lack of adequate traction.

Perhaps the most dangerous assumption made by these drivers involved the issue of traction. They all ignored the “basic rule of traction” which includes: tire tread, speed of the vehicle, and the condition of the road. If these drivers had followed this basic safety rule everyone would have been safe. Unfortunately these drivers didn’t know, forgot, or selfishly choose to ignore this rule.

The last 25 miles took two hours to drive because three highway safety vehicles had been dispatched to slow down the traffic. We were grateful these men and women were creating a safe travel environment because our experience taught us that the drivers might not control the situation by themselves. We wondered what would have happened if the highway patrol hadn’t taken charge.

What resiliency skills can our children learn from this anecdote? There are several: recognizing our surroundings, assessing danger, using common sense in making decisions, and not succumbing to the inappropriate actions and pressure of others. We can also teach our children that there are times when the slow and steady course increases our chances of reaching our destination safely.