Driving Test
All three of our children became good drivers; but all three have had unfortunate collisions, none of which they could have prevented, and none that were their fault.
Our youngest son Roy Jr. stopped so a trio of deer to cross the highway near Hopwood. While he and Suzanne waited patiently, suddenly a loud ‘whump’ occurred as a lone deer decided to go through the car rather than around it. No damage resulted other than a dented door, mangled rear view mirror, and a really embarrassed deer.
Our middle child Cindy and her kids were not so fortunate. Again, she was stopped at an intersection, waiting for traffic when a deer jumped through the window of her van. Flying glass injured her son Kevin, while Brad, Greg and Mom were nicked by glass shards.
Lori, our first daughter, driving since age 16, was on her way to work in Fox Chapel when at a merge point, a driver merged at highway speed, right into the side of her Buick. While she was glad that she had no injuries, I don’t believe she ever recovered the cost of damage to her car.
I tried to instill safe driving principles in all three kids, and they responded well by not making some of the self-taught idiotic mistakes that I made at a young age.
Cindy was a very adventurous driver and volunteered to help with driving the truck and our 20-foot trailer to the eastern shore for our summer vacation. I agreed to let her drive, confident in her ability.
She had no idea – nor did I – of upcoming events that would put her newly acquired driving skills to a rigorous test.
Everything was normal as we pulled on to the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Donegal.
The concern began when my daughter entered road construction from Donegal to Somerset. I asked her if she wanted me to take over driving, but she assured me she could handle it. Although she seemed understandably a little nervous when 18 wheelers were flying past her on the narrow Jersey barrier lanes, she did not ask for me to take over.
I reminded her to remain aware of the vehicle and keep a constant speed. She rose the occasion, and we climbed the mountain flawlessly.
But after clearing the construction and passing Somerset, traffic got really heavy and fast. Some repairs were being made to the berms of the turnpike and the edge of the highway had a drop off of a foot or more.
I had no sooner told Cindy how important it was to keep the truck, or even worse, the trailer from dropping off the berm, when a pickup pulling a trailer about the same size as ours came flying by in the left lane. When the driver pulled back into the right lane the trailer wheels went off the berm. The heavy trailer pulled the whole unit sideways and the trailer doors flew open spilling its contents everywhere. The truck zig-zagged crazily down the highway but finally straightened out and pulled off the road.
“What do I do Dad?” was my daughter’s nervous query.
“Well, you can’t stop,” I told her. “We’re in 70 mph traffic; but you can consider this a lesson with a perfect illustration”.
The experience seemed to be a great confidence builder for my young driver. Relaxed, she let me take over the driving after we had cleared most of the mountain hills and curves.
On the way back, she volunteered to drive part way as well; so when I got very tired, I climbed into the truck cap, where we had cushions and mats for the kids, and quickly went to sleep.
At that time, Scottdale was replacing underground utility lines or sewers on Main Street with patches everywhere.
I was awakened by the truck jolting and our boat, strapped to the roof banging on the camper top.
I knew we were back in Scottdale.
Roy Hess Sr. is a retired teacher and businessman from Dawson.