Novice Learner & Teacher Tragedy

Conducting driving lessons during peak hours was often a stressful time. When my pupil and I were stuck in a major traffic jam on Tapleys Hill Road, Fulham Gardens, it was as bad as it could get. We realized he would be late for his classes at Henley Beach High. At least he would survive his driving lessons alive.

 

Another unfortunate learner driver that morning did not.

He was behind the wheel of a small Toyota driving school vehicle, which had crashed and caused the chaos.

 

Sixteen year-old Steven was having his third driving lesson with his instructor, Jane, who was about twice his age. She had only weeks earlier obtained her instructor's licence, a process which had only taken a few months of training, after leaving her previous job in aged care.

 

Jane had answered a job vacancy ad for driving instructor and been successful. This came as a surprise to her, since she had had absolutely no experience in the field and needed to be trained.

 

One aspect of her new job puzzled Jane. Her easy-going personality readily accepted it, when her new employer advised her to not bother installing a dual brake in her new work vehicle. He argued on three fronts:

 

One, its not law, why spend money, if you don't have to?

 

Two, Mums and Dads don't have dual controls when taking their kids for driving practice.

 

Three, he had survived for five years without, why bother?

 

So far Jane had also survived - for three weeks! That day was to be her last.

The red dot on Tapleys Hill Road, Fulham Gardens means there are traffic lights installed. For Jane it was the spot where she was to die. Her driving-school car and a truck collided at the intersection with Valetta Rd.

 

Ten minutes into the driving lesson Steven and Jane were driving in a southerly direction on Tapleys Hill Road. Steven changed lanes correctly, in preparation to turn right at the intersection with Valetta Road. There were traffic lights,  but no right-turn arrows, only a circle light installed.

 

Jane had taught Steven correctly: "On green you must move into the intersection, keep your car and wheels straight, while giving way to all oncoming traffic. When there is a safe gap, or when the lights turn amber, turn promptly, when safe to do so."

 

That morning there was no gap in the traffic. Steven was watching the constant flow of oncoming cars, buses and trucks, rushing north toward Port Adelaide.

 

Fifty-three year-old Harry was among them.  He had been a truckie for 27 years and loved his job. That morning he felt a little tired, after having risen at 5.30 am to load his Kenworth. Perhaps, he should not have stayed up late watching the late-night movie?

 

As Harry was approaching the busy Valetta Road intersection, carrying a 24-ton load of steel, the traffic light showed green. His observation was as good as that of a young man, his driving always professional.

 

He noticed that a vehicle was waiting to turn right, across his path. It was a learner driver.  The speedometer of Harry's Kenworth showed 55 kilometers per hour. He continued at this steady pace, keeping an eye on the learner, as well as the stale green light.

 

At a very critical moment the lights changed from green to amber. The timing could not have been worse!

 

Jane wondered about the oncoming truck - would the driver be able to stop his huge rig before the intersection?

Road safety experts know that the first few seconds after traffic lights change are most critical. This is when most crashes occur.

Nobody else, only the two deceased, knows what went on inside the learner car in the last seconds of their lives. 

 

Leaning on my experience I shall try to piece together a scenario, what may have taken place, having been in the same position hundreds of times in my working life:

 

When the lights turned amber Harry slowed the truck, thinking he possibly could bring his huge rig to a halt. But sharp braking with a load of 24 tons of steel is not easy!

His momentary braking did not only create a small gap in the oncoming traffic, it also created the impression that his truck was going to stop at the amber light!

 

Jane and Steven were momentarily of the same impression - the truck would be stopping and they could safely clear the intersection. They only had seconds to do so.

The question is: Was Steven the decision maker to turn, or was it Jane?

 

Instructors often, especially with advanced learners, give them free reign, ie. they let the learner decide what to do, and only interfere, if and when a mistake is made!

 

Depending on the mistake, the correction in most cases is pressing the dual brake. But Jane had no dual brake! In the final analysis, it was her job to stop Steven from turning, unless it was absolutely clear the truck will stop at the lights.

 

Here is how I could imagine, why the two died: Jane waited for Steven to judge the situation. Seeing the truck slowing down, the gap this created, plus the amber light, made Steven press the accelerator to clear the intersection and commenced his turn.

 

Half-way into the turn - HORROR! The truck did not stop as expected. After braking Harry realized his huge load of steel would not allow him to bring his rig to a stop! At the worst moment possible the Kenworth was bearing down on the learner. Jane, now in a mild panic, urged her learner: "Go! Go! Faster Faster!"

 

There would have still been a way out, had Steven been quicker pressing the accelerator. But his instructor's raised voice, her display of fear, plus the truck now looming ever so close, scared Steven to the core!

He either was too slow in moving, or he panicked and made the mistake of his life - pressing the brake. The Toyota came to an abrupt stop - right in the path of Harry's Kenworth.

 

The impact was brutal. Rescue workers were unable to retrieve the bodies from the wrecked vehicle. After trying for some hours,  in the end they moved it, the bodies inside to another location. Harry escaped with a massive shock and a few bruises. It took him days to get back to work.

 

How could this tragedy have been avoided?

An experienced instructor would have stopped Steven, after he made the very risky decision to turn at the crash intersection on amber. But Jane's vehicle did not have dual controls! 

 

However, even dual controls would not have saved the two lives, if Steven mistakenly applied the brake pedal, instead of the accelerator.

 

(I used to impress this point to my students: If you're in doubt, do nothing. I can brake. If you brake by mistake, there is little I can do!)

 

Our Government allows a professional driving school to operate vehicles without dual brake. While I am normally in favour of minimal governmental interference, in this case I am all for it. This major flaw in the driver education industrie needs a law to fix it.

 

Most professionals, thankfully, are sensible enough to spend the money and install dual controls; for their own safety and that of their clients.

Verdict: Turning right at a green circle traffic light is hazardous. Learners should first practice this with a driving instructor, before attempting it with parents or friends.

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About the author:

Dieter Fischer, a German born Australian, taught thousands of people to drive during his almost 30-year career. He was a pioneer in online road safety, establishing his first website in 1998. He and his wife were married in 1971. They have four grown-up children and live in Adelaide, South Australia. 

Site by Dieter Fischer  / Revised 2020