Expect the Unexpected and Know How to Manage it

What does it mean to expect the unexpected? It’s an extremely common saying, and it’s one that I use all the time when I am coaching teen drivers. I use this phrase as a teaching tool because it’s a fast and easy way to remind my students to stay alert and aware behind the wheel.

We can’t predict the future, but what we can do is be prepared for unlikely situations. And that’s the key to defensive driving skills. I coach teen drivers based on the absolute fact that they will face circumstances beyond their control. How they react in the moment could make a huge difference. But it’s also important - and we don’t really talk about this enough - to know what to do after the unexpected occurs. What we do next in those situations will contribute to making things better, or at least not making things worse.

I have several recent, local examples of unexpected scenarios to help illustrate this guidance. Unfortunately, some of these tragedies resulted in someone’s death. While I don’t like to focus on the worst that can happen, it is a reality. Preparedness is always our best defense to prevent the worst outcomes.

When the Unexpected Happens to You

A 2025 report from State Farm lists Pennsylvania as having the 5th highest number of animal-related collisions, and the highest number of insurance claims for collisions with animals. Deer are of course the most common animal involved in these crashes. Deer are everywhere during these autumn months, and they are one of the most dangerous hazards a driver can face.

In our region, meaning Eastern Montgomery County and Lower Bucks County, we have this beautifully blended landscape of agriculture and wooded areas throughout our busy suburbs. It’s gorgeous and interesting for sure. But nature is unpredictable, and therefore hazardous. Just in the past 2 months, two people were tragically killed during deer-involved crashes. A man from Ambler collided with a deer on the PA Turnpike just a few weeks ago and died at the scene. In September, a student at Malvern Prep was in his friend’s car on the way to school. A pickup truck traveling the other direction struck a deer and sent it flying through the other car’s windshield, killing the teen passenger.

Deer are not the only unexpected hazard we face (see photos below).

Photo Credit - 6 ABC Action News

Another story in September, this time on the Northeast Extension of the Turnpike, involved a tire flying off of a pickup truck and crashing through the roof and windshield of a car traveling the other direction. No one died at the scene, but one of the passengers was still in critical condition at the time of the news story.

I don’t share these stories for the sake of sensationalism. The fact is that we cannot avoid every unexpected thing no matter how many safe driving skills we use. What we can do, however, is act responsibly in all circumstances.

For starters, expect to see deer! We live in Pennsylvania. Deer crossings are a matter of when, not if. If you are driving in the early mornings or anytime after dusk begins, be on the lookout. And remember, they aren’t just in the woods. Deer are hanging out in back yards, open space between developments, and on the farms. Alert drivers are looking around, watching for deer and other hazards. 

How do we drive to best avoid the unexpected? It’s all about being RAD:

• Responsible - obeying the speed limit, staying in your lane, slowing down when conditions call for it, not taking chances when visibility is limited

• Aware - keeping your eyes moving, looking to the sides and behind, responding to what the car in front of you or in the oncoming lane is doing, watching for animals or road hazards

• Defensive - having your hands on the wheel, keeping your foot ready to brake, and knowing how the car will react to your decisions

RAD driving might not prevent the bad event entirely, but it could reduce the severity of an outcome. When the unexpected thing unfortunately happens, those same skills will help you manage the next steps. It is absolutely vital to keep your cool after a near miss or crash. Always do your best to maintain control of the car until you can bring it to a stop and turn off the engine. Call 911 and talk to people who arrive to help since they can see more from outside the car. Finally, do your best not to panic, but rather to think before you act so that you can manage the situation.

When the Unexpected Happens Around You

I have two friends who got caught in a terrible backup on Route 81 after a tractor trailer flipped. One of them sent me some pictures and videos of the scene from this past September. The people who were stuck sitting on the highway were out of their cars, walking around a bit. Some drivers decided to get themselves out of the situation by crossing the median to join traffic heading the other direction. Of course, the lanes moving the other way were already all clogged up because of people slowing down to check out the situation.

Sometimes, the unexpected happens near you or around you. While it doesn’t wreck your car or result in a physical injury to you, it does certainly affect you. My friends were stuck on Rt. 81 for over three hours. They watched as emergency vehicles fought their way through the traffic jam, and they witnessed near accidents due to the behavior of impatient drivers trying to take matters into their own hands.

Getting stuck in an unexpected situation is certainly frustrating, but it’s important to keep managing your circumstances with those RAD principles in mind. First and foremost, accept that your day looks different now, and you need to reset all of your expectations. When things go haywire, far too many people fail to adjust their own priorities to deal with what is right in front of them. They want to get their own plans back on track as soon as possible and have trouble accepting that there might not be anything you can do but wait. 

So how do we manage our attitude and needs as someone simply stuck in unexpected circumstances? Keep being RAD:

• Be responsible - don’t make selfish or illegal decisions! Crossing the median is illegal, so unless the police come along to safely redirect traffic to the other side of the highway or along the shoulders, it’s best to stay where you are. Keep in mind that responsible drivers don’t let their gas tanks run down too low during highway trips with long distances between gas stations, and they have emergency blankets and first aid kits stored in the car.

• Be aware - keep an eye and ear out for first responders and other individuals who might have real emergencies resulting from the situation. If the ambulance has to drive up between the lanes, you had better be in your driver’s seat ready to move out of the way. If someone around you needs help, do what you can to offer assistance or support. 

• Be defensive - triage your own needs to deal with your present circumstances. You might need to find someone to pick up your kids while you’re stuck. If you have to use the restroom, or you’re a diabetic who needs a snack, look for ways to take care of these things long before they are emergencies. Also, keep your emotions in check so that you avoid making bad choices or turning an inconvenience into an emergency.

Highway crashes are always a bad situation, but the reality is that they all get resolved to a clear roadway eventually. If you have the unfortunate experience of being stuck in something like this, be thankful that you and your vehicle are uninjured, and rest assured that you will eventually get moving again.

Risk-free Driving is Impossible; Risk-reduced Driving is Necessary

As adults, we have decades of experience with facing the unexpected in a car. Sometimes it’s an interesting story, sometimes it’s a cautionary tale, and sometimes it’s a tragic memory. If you have ever been severely impacted by a sudden collision or a highway crash, my heart goes out to you. One of the hard parts of our job as driving coaches is to talk to people who have legitimate fears because of past events. Driving is never risk-free.

What teen drivers can learn, however, is to reduce risk to the lowest possible degree. As a parent, you can get the ball rolling on this with The Parent’s Survival Guide for New Teen Drivers. If you’d like to enhance your teen driver’s ability to expect and manage the unexpected, contact us for Safe Driving Lessons. Our coaches are passionate about equipping teen drivers with a lifetime of safe driving skills.