The Drivers

In Short

This story depicts a regimented future where driving jet-powered vehicles at near-sonic speeds serves as a state-sanctioned outlet for human aggression. Twenty-year-old Tom Rogers, plagued by a lifelong phobia of car accidents, must secure his license to avoid being hunted as a social pariah. What begins as a terrifying rite of passage transforms into a dark exploration of how youth are coerced into accepting violence as a badge of maturity. It remains a poignant, unsettling look at the price of conforming to a society that equates survival with prestige.

The Story

In the year 2041, the world has replaced the social unrest and wars of the 20th century with the institution of "Driving." Young people are expected to test their mettle on high-speed "Jetways" in specialized jetmobiles known as Hornets. Tom Rogers, twenty years old and nearing the cutoff age for licensing, enters the Department of Land-Jet Vehicles with a heart full of terror. Haunted by the deaths of his grandfather and other family members, he has spent his life fearing the very machines he is now forced to operate.

During his examination with Harry Hayden, a veteran examiner who has lost limbs to the sport, Tom successfully masks his dread. He echoes the state-mandated history lessons, justifying the slaughter of young drivers as a necessary "weeding out" process that creates mature, disciplined citizens. Passing his tests, he is assigned a brand-new Hornet. Despite his intense nausea and desire to quit, he is pushed forward by the crushing expectations of his parents and peers, who view his participation as a non-negotiable step toward manhood.

On his first morning, Tom enters the Jetway. He is terrified, struggling to maintain the required speeds while navigating a stream of aggressive drivers. He witnesses the wreckage of past collisions and the cold indifference of the other participants. When he is targeted by a "side-swiper"—a seasoned killer named Wilson who thrives on murdering rookies—Tom is forced to make a split-second decision. In a surge of desperate, adrenaline-fueled instinct, he manipulates his Hornet’s engines to create a wall of fire, forcing Wilson to crash and die.

Tom’s survival is hailed as a triumph. He returns home not just as a survivor, but as a local hero, decorated with ribbons and showered with the admiration of the very people he once felt alienated from. He discovers that his fear, while not entirely gone, has been obscured by the intoxicating weight of fame. By the story's end, the quiet, fearful student has been entirely replaced by a young man ready to face the Jetway again. When his mother suggests he stay home for his birthday, Tom refuses; he intends to drive to a party in the next city, fully initiated into the cycle of violence.

How It Unfolds

The examination Tom enters a sterile, robotic bureau to face a human examiner, hoping he will fail his tests. Instead, he finds himself forced to justify his delay in joining the sport and parrot state ideologies.

The realization Harry Hayden approves Tom’s license, leaving the young man trapped by his own deception. Tom observes the black, predatory Hornets and realizes he has no escape from the path set for him.

The initiation Tom arrives at the terminal on his first day, struggling against the physical symptoms of panic. He watches the others move with practiced, soldier-like precision, realizing they are all playing a role in a state-sanctioned arena.

The confrontation On the track, Tom is forced into a deadly duel by a veteran driver. He manages to destroy his attacker through a desperate, accidental maneuver, turning his fear into a tool for survival.

The hollow victory Returning home, Tom is celebrated as a hero and receives a prestigious award. He finds that his newfound status offers him the social belonging he craved, effectively silencing his conscience.

The People

Tom Rogers is the protagonist, a sensitive journalism student burdened by a deep-seated fear of death. He wants nothing more than to live a quiet life, but his need for social acceptance and the threat of legal repercussions drive him into the cockpit. He finishes the story transformed, trading his authentic self for a hollow, glorified identity.

Harry Hayden serves as the voice of the state, a "Final Examiner" who is both kindly and disturbingly detached. Having lost his own sons to the Jetways, he views the carnage as natural and necessary. He acts as the gatekeeper who validates the system’s cruelty, seeing Tom’s reluctance as merely a lack of proper upbringing rather than a rational response to madness.

Tom’s parents represent the pressure of the collective. They are proud, yet beneath their excitement, they harbor a secret, stifled terror. They encourage Tom to risk his life because they lack the courage to stand against a culture that demands sacrifice. Their validation of Tom’s success acts as the final anchor, binding him to the very system that threatens to destroy him.

In Its Own Voice

"Jetways were excellent substitutes for war, perfect outlets for all forms of neuroses."

The narrator describes the cynical underlying purpose of the high-speed highway system.

"The metallic voice of a robot-receptionist hummed at him: 'Name?'"

This interaction captures the cold, automated nature of the bureaucracy Tom must navigate to get his license.

"A black meteor in Tom's radarscope, it zoomed upon him."

This conveys the mechanical, dehumanizing nature of the threat Tom faces while driving on the Jetway.

What It's Really About

The story explores the concept of state-sanctioned violence as a tool for social control. It argues that societies often create artificial "challenges" to channel the restless energies of the youth, effectively turning potential dissidents into combatants. The central tension is not just between Tom and the other drivers, but between the human desire for safety and the cultural demand to prove one's worth through mortal risk. It posits that the "boredom" of a peaceful, secure life is often framed by society as a failure, forcing individuals to seek artificial meaning through the destruction of themselves and others.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-century science fiction will find this a sharp, unsettling experience. It lacks the expansive world-building of a novel, focusing instead on the claustrophobic anxiety of a single character caught in a trap. The prose is utilitarian and tense, mirroring the mechanical nature of the world it describes.

Those who appreciate stories about the loss of innocence or the pressure of societal expectations will resonate with Tom’s journey. However, the story is a product of its time—the period-specific attitudes toward gender roles and family life are rigid, and the dialogue reflects a 1950s sensibility that may feel dated. Because the book is a short story, the narrative pace is swift, moving from the exam room to the high-speed finale with breathless efficiency. It does not linger on the mechanics of the futuristic cars, but rather on the psychological toll they take on the driver. What stays with you is the final image of a young man choosing to continue his dangerous, lethal path simply because he has finally tasted the approval of his peers, highlighting how quickly the human spirit can be bent toward a destructive status quo.