Healing Behind the Wheel: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide for Crash Survivors, Witnesses & First Responders

by Janelle Marie

Reclaim your confidence, your control, and your road through proven trauma-informed driving recovery approaches. Read on to discover how living in the aftermath of a traffic crash can leave you feeling isolated, anxious, and out of control.

However, there are well-established pathways to recovery that address not only the physical but also the profound emotional impacts of a traumatic traffic crash.

This guide offers just that…
It is a compassionate, step-by-step approach to recovery that understands and addresses your deepest fears.

Inside, you will

The S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework — a trauma-informed guide to navigate the emotional turmoil of post-crash recovery

How to recognize and validate your trauma as a real and impactful experience

Strategies to manage immediate post-trauma reactions to help stabilize your emotions

Techniques for reconnecting with your body to alleviate the physical symptoms of trauma

Practical steps to rebuild your confidence in driving and gradually reduce the fear

How to harness the power of your support network, enhancing your recovery with the aid of those who matter

Advanced coping mechanisms that provide long-term solutions to prevent relapse

Ways to handle setbacks constructively without derailing your progress toward recovery

Lifestyle adjustments that promote mental health and well-being,

And much more.

This book is your guide to thriving — not just surviving — after a traffic crash.
With expert advice and empathic understanding, it equips you to take back the driver’s seat and be in control once again.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 2, 2025

About the author

Janelle Lawrence is an accomplished author and traffic safety advocate with a distinguished career dedicated to promoting road safety and educating the community. As the Executive Director of Oregon Impact, Janelle leads initiatives that administer DUII, Distracted Driving, Youth, and Latino Victims Impact Panels. Her impactful work in schools underscores the grave consequences of making poor choices while driving.

Reviews

[Hannah Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a master class in how to recover from trauma induced by a motor vehicle accident. As the title suggests, the book advises an active approach re-exposing oneself to driving again as soon as possible after the traumatic accident. But readers aren’t left with only that vague advice; this book provides numerous, specific examples of therapeutic methods, lifestyle changes, and self-soothing techniques which are scientifically proven to be helpful in healing post-traumatic stress.
For me, this was an emotional read. I have been in a physically and emotionally traumatic car accident, as have several of my family members. Numerous solutions suggested in this book were vital to my recovery and that of my loved ones. Some of my favorites were 4-7-8 breathing, exposure therapy, and establishing a safety check routine for each time I drive. I’m so thankful to the author for providing others who live with motor-vehicle-accident-induced trauma with an outlet that could help them live happier lives.

[L Becerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of it kind

I liked the Road Recovery Framework because it is structured and adaptable, guiding readers through acknowledging their trauma, managing fear responses, and gently reentering the world of driving with renewed confidence.

[Ruben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. It's an excellent book. Janelle Marie did an excellent job reading this book. This is an excellent book to read for those who have experienced a car accident and how to overcome their fears of taking that same road that the accident occurred on. I recall that in 2015, I was in a car accident, and for the longest time, I wouldn't take that road that the accident occurred on. After a while, I got enough courage to drive past that road. I think that any type of car accident takes time to heal from, sometimes it may be a long journey to recery, bit I believe it can be achieved.

[Renae Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly impactful. It begins with a testimonial about a traumatic event that was ultimately destabilizing. It's tailored specifically for those who have experienced a similar destabilizing event, helping them recognize the impact, symptoms of resulting trauma, and ways to address it. Although I'm not a survivor of a car accident, this book resonated with me as a survivor of severe trauma. It helped me clearly understand the extent of my trauma and how I reached my current state. It was both enlightening and validating, allowing me to put things into perspective and finally identify what I've been experiencing all these years. That kind of realization is priceless. I strongly recommend this book to anyone dealing with trauma. There's so much value in it—truly a treasure that cannot be overstated.

[Sachi Ito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very refreshing information

I know so many people that this book can help… We probably all know someone who has been in a traffic accident, but we may not all know about the traumatic emotional impacts of being in a car accident. This is a book that delicately explains how to get through these emotional impacts. It teaches you a lot about listening to your body and mind so that you can find real ways to heal it. It’s so interesting to think that our body will remember things that our mind may try to forget. I learned a lot about somatic symptoms that show up in the body after a psychological traumatic experience, like a traffic crash. But I also learned so much more.

[Tara Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can drive again

This book discussed PTSD cause by traffic accidents, which is a subject that needs more recognition. Its one of those things that you don't think about until it happens to you! I've actually never seen a book like this and Im so glad I came across it. I highly recommend this resource for someone that has had an accident and is having trouble returning behind the wheel. it was so succinct, with a format that breaks up the different stages.

[Carlos Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful


I honestly didn’t think a book could help me with the fear I’ve carried since my car accident—but Healing Behind the Wheel proved me wrong in the best way. I picked it up during a particularly rough patch, when I couldn’t even sit in the passenger seat without feeling tense and tearful. I felt alone, ashamed, and frustrated that something so everyday—driving—had become so overwhelming for me.

[Robert Buessing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it’s a good overview and would be a good starting point for recovery from a more serious car accident. I felt it was more written for people who experienced a more serious car crash and were injured, as a lot of time was spent discussing physical recovery. I would have liked to see more focus on regaining confidence and decreasing anxiety on the road beyond common mental health advice like having social support and meditating regularly.

[Aneley Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Resource for Therapists and Caregivers.

As a trauma counselor, I found this book incredibly useful for clients recovering from crash related PTSD. It gives clear language for complex feelings and offers tools that align with current trauma informed care models. It’s also very reader friendly.

[Gianfranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading

Healing Behind the Wheel by Janelle Marie is a must-read for anyone affected by the emotional impact of a traffic accident. As someone who thought I had “moved on” after a car crash but found myself avoiding highways and panicking in certain driving conditions, this book offered a gentle wake-up call and a path forward.

[Daniel Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good info

The book doesn’t just preach mindfulness or positive thinking—it provides specific techniques, from breathing and body awareness to managing triggers and reestablishing trust in yourself as a driver. I especially appreciated the advice on handling setbacks. It helped shift my mindset from fear of failure to seeing recovery as a non-linear journey.

[Margarita Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful read.

I really liked it. What stood out to me was the S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework. It’s not just another acronym—it’s a deeply thoughtful and well-organized guide that addresses every stage of healing, from immediate emotional reactions to long-term mental health strategies.

[AMR CAMI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one!

What I found especially valuable were the somatic techniques for reconnecting with the body. Trauma often lives in our physical selves, and Janelle’s exercises helped me become more aware of when I was tensing up or dissociating behind the wheel. It’s also clear that she cares deeply about her readers—her tone is nurturing, non-judgmental, and affirming.

[Maria Paula Castellanos Monroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empathetic, practical, and life-affirming

This book came to me at the right moment. After a serious car crash left me physically healed but mentally paralyzed, I didn’t know where to turn. Healing Behind the Wheel gave me language for what I was feeling—hypervigilance, fear, disconnection—and more importantly, gave me tools to begin healing.

[Ivana S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep

Janelle Marie’s words felt like a warm hand reaching out. She didn’t talk at me with clinical advice; she spoke to me, like someone who truly understands what this kind of trauma does to your mind and body. I saw myself in the pages, in the fear responses, in the avoidance patterns, in the desire to move forward but not knowing how.

[Lauraforero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended


Liked it. It’s a roadmap for reclaiming your life. If you or someone you know is struggling after a crash, please read this. It helped me believe that peace behind the wheel is possible again.

[Rocio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janelle Marie approaches trauma recovery with deep compassion and zero judgment. Her message is simple but powerful: You are not broken, and you are not alone. The S.A.F.E. Road Recovery Framework helps break down what can feel like a huge, impossible problem into manageable steps.

[Rodrigo J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comforting and clear

One of the most powerful parts for me was the emphasis on not comparing your healing timeline to anyone else’s. The author reminds us that setbacks don’t mean failure, and every small step forward is worth celebrating. That message alone brought me so much comfort.

[Finley Burns]

I just won this book in a giveaway and I am really excited to read it. Trauma is a very important topic to me and one that needs more awareness. I will post a full review as soon as I have read it.

[Jeff Blackwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate winning this book giveaway, but I don't use a Kindle to read it. I'd rather receive a copy in the mail.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter gave me both comfort and a challenge—comfort in the understanding tone, and a challenge to apply the exercises and push through fear bit by bit.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you're newly traumatized, years into a silent struggle, or a loved one seeking to help, Healing Behind the Wheel is the resource you've been waiting for. I highly recommend it.

[Saya Jacaranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compassionate and empowering


Healing Behind the Wheel is one of the most compassionate and empowering books I’ve read on trauma recovery—especially for something as specific and often misunderstood as post-accident driving anxiety.

[Eric F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the attention to the support network—how to involve family and friends in a healthy way and how to set boundaries when needed. This book feels comprehensive without being overwhelming.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I found it helpful although my accident was a year ago. I would have found it more helpful had I read it sooner or if I did not have a background in healthcare.

[Lina Perea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

Janelle Marie has created a guide that speaks directly to those of us who have felt powerless, anxious, or broken after a traumatic car accident. I would totally recommend reading it and having it at hand too.

[Darnella Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and enlightening. I learned quite a bit about overcoming my fears and trepidations.

Thank you.