At first it seems a bit odd that someone as cocky as Laverne would be afraid to drive in "'Drive', She Said". However, considering how much of a klutz Laverne is, and the fact that unlike most of the things she and Shirley screw up in, car accidents can actually kill, it's no wonder she'd be afraid.
In "One Flew Over Milwaukee", Laverne mentions a Noodle Incident involving Shirley thinking her hamster had a headache. Seeing as we never see Shirley's hamster, it seems like it died.
