Watch as a Class A motorhome sideswipes a big rig truck on I-15 in Southern California. The truck had made an emergency stop before the crash occurred. The result is not pretty. There’s no doubt it, the RV is a goner.
This video shows how quickly a disaster can occur on the road — one second all is fine, the next, disaster! And after that everything is changed. In this case, whatever trip was underway is finished, as is the RV. And there’s the heartache.
Drive defensively. Keep your eyes down the road for possible problems and anticipate your reaction. That won’t always avoid disaster, but it will cut the odds of one occurring.
Now, watch and weep.
##RVT931
Motor home driver was at fault all the way through this video, first they were driving in the far left lane which they had no business being in as they weren’t passing any vehicles. Next they failed to move over approaching the truck, common sense says if you see a disabled vehicle on the side of the road you either move over or slow to a safe speed. What if the driver of that truck would’ve step around the corner his truck when this happened, there would be a charge of vehicular homicide. It really irks me when buy a big rv and never give any thought that it is different than driving their Honda Civic. Maybe they had it on cruise control and were back watching 70 year old reruns of Ozzie and Harriet.
He was in the right slow lane. He had multiple cameras on board, and you are seeing the rear view in that portion. And Yes, the RV driver was completely at fault though he denies it.
Multiple videos on YouTube.
Well folks as someone who made a living repairing this stuff for over four decades, seeing the damage is no surprise. What it all speaks to is lack of compulsory driving education. I willl never cease being totally baffled knowing that anyone can run these big rigs with little of no training, learn as you go. There’s plenty of eveidence here suggestive of a driver who simply ran out of luck. If everyone in that RIG SURVIVED THIS THEY BETTER BUY A LOTTERY TICKET.
Also universally, the top RV vehicle speed especially with tow behind should be 60mph, I am passed regularly by giants at 75 mph and sometimes more. A disaster looms there from which there often is little chance of return!
Only the driver and one cat were on board the RV. Both survived.
Thank goodness!
And the MH driver who appears TOTALLY at fault is denying ANY responsibility if you look at his multiple videos on YouTube. He does use creative editing to try and weasel out.
Looked totally preventable, 100% MH driver error.
I don’t think I agree. The RV had 700 feet between the Truck and the RV. The truck was driving in front, then just came to a complete stop in the road.
The driver then had to react, then drive to the left lane where there was much faster traffic coming.
At the last second the RV realizes the fast little white car can’t get out of the way enough, so the RV held back to prevent THAT accident.
Yup should have been looking up the road instead of at all his camera’s. Also, note the white car blindly driving in the center lane making its slow pass thus prevent the rv from making an emergency lane change. 4-wheeler traffic will block your lane change if your not careful so defensive driving says look down the road so you can plan ahead!!!!!!!!
How do you know he was looking at his cameras?
The RV had 700 feet between the Truck and the RV. The truck was driving in front, then just came to a complete stop in the road.
The driver then had to react, then drive to the left lane where there was much faster traffic coming.
At the last second the RV realizes the fast little white car can’t get out of the way enough, so the RV held back to prevent THAT accident.
If the truck suddenly stops that means something took out the airlines to his trailer brakes, they automatically lock up if air pressure is suddenly lost.
Should have taken the exit?
I was always taught in the many defensive driving classes throughout my FD career to take that if you are destined to crash, take out the object with the least resistance.
I thought that all motorhomes were like ours and had brakes. If you look and can’t get left, you don’t just keep going in hopes that the car passes, you get on the brakes. Take the car out if you have to, but you had better be standing on the brakes when you do. You are still at fault, but you don’t come away looking like a complete dumba@@. When I worked crashes like this one, the citation normally read reckless driving plus any other charges that were warranted. Most officers have no sympathy for stupidity.
Clearly, the MH driver was NOT driving far enough ahead since 700 feet was not sufficient distance to take evasive action. Many people seem to drive as far ahead as their front bumper. At 60 mph, you cover 88 feet every second. That means the driver of the MH had a TOTAL of less than 8 seconds to do something and that 8 seconds gets eaten up pretty quickly with things like noticing the truck, seeing what the truck was doing, determining what the truck was going to do next, and actually taking action. The MH driver was “behind his vehicle” as is said in Naval aviation.
Video link broken. Old article, video may be removed or archived?
Just watched it. Working now.
Sorry, Tim. It works for me, so I wasn’t aware others would have a problem with the link. Here’s the link on YouTube. I hope it works for you. Take care. 🙂 –Diane
This is what happens when you watch only as far ahead as your front bumper.
I can’t get anything to watch it.
Sorry, Lisa. Some folks can see it and some can’t. (It worked for me when I proofed it, so I wasn’t aware of any problem.) Here’s the link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VuRtNajq-Yo I hope that works for you. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
Yeah, I’m not seeing the video either….. just a blank square where the video should be.
Oh well.
Sorry, Connie. It worked for me when I proofed it. Here’s the link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VuRtNajq-Yo Take care. 😀 –Diane
Worked for me in Safari but not Firefox.
Not working for me.
Sorry, Ralph. Not sure why it works for some and not others. It worked for me when I proofed it. But here’s the link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VuRtNajq-Yo I hope that works for you. Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
Hello all
We are new to the RV (class A) world. I was told (several times) the following: Keep your speed slow and enjoy the ride, stay in the righthand lane, always know what is on your left side, and always try to keep 7-10 seconds of the vehicle in front of you.
I want to take an RV driving course, but many have been closed due to Covid.
Calm down the music. I couldn’t hear the narrator.
In Wisconsin there is a law that basically says slow down, move over. Especially heavy motor home.They don’t stop that well.
Hindsight is always 20/20
The video link is broken.
Hmmm. Sorry, Mike. It works for me. But thanks for letting us know, just in case. Here’s the link on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VuRtNajq-Yo Have a great day! 😀 –Diane
Thanks Diane. Just checked again and still not there. Using safari on an apple Xr if that helps.
Well shoot. I can still see it fine, but just for kicks I’ve added the link below the text in the post. Now some folks (including me) will see it above the text and below the text. If you still can’t see it, it must be something with what you’re trying to view it on. Maybe there is a setting blocking it for some reason. Were you able to you open it from the link I included in my previous reply to your comment? 😕 Thanks, Mike. –Diane
UPDATE: Here’s what our IT guru, Kim, just explained to me about this problem: “It’s likely he has 3rd party blocking turned on so that’s why he isn’t seeing a video link because YouTube is embedding the content into our site (and for a lot of browsers that’s seen as a possible problem with tracking and privacy). This issue will continue to get worse as browsers tighten up privacy requirements for their users.” 🙄 –Diane
Yikes! Quite the sobering video. Thank you for reminding me of how unsubstantial fiberglass is in the smallest of crashes. Defensive driving takes on a much greater meaning after watching this video. Wow!
This is an old video so I don’t know if anyone will see my question
Does anyone know what video system they are using? Before I add more cameras to my rig I want to central dvr them all and also watch/control from different locations. Cab, living room, bed, remote etc. Hopefully something affordable…
Thanks in advance!