"the drive" in this sentence refers to the entranceway for a car from the street into a private property, most likely a house. The drive, or driveway, normally leads from the street to the garage where the car is kept. So, your example is talking about a person hearing the sound of an approaching car, most likely the sound of the owners of the house where he is returning, and its close, in the driveway, so he runs away. Sounds like he is a thief and doesn't want to get caught.