Driving an RV offers the freedom to explore the open road. However, it also comes with unique challenges, especially when it comes to dealing with aggressive drivers.
My husband and I recently faced a potential road rage entanglement. We were driving in the far right lane in preparation for our upcoming exit. One by one, other drivers sped around our RV and immediately cut in front of us. Several gave us the evil eye, and a few drivers even waved in a not-so-friendly manner. Sigh.
My husband was getting frustrated because he feared rear-ending a quick-cutting vehicle. I could tell his blood pressure was escalating, and so was mine! We needed some help to avoid and defuse road rage.
RVs are targets?
RVs are larger and sometimes slower than typical vehicles. This can frustrate other drivers. Here are a few tips for RVers:
• Stay in the right lane. Keep your RV in the right lane unless you’re passing. This allows faster vehicles to overtake you safely and reduces frustration among other drivers.
• Use your horn sparingly. Avoid using your horn unless it’s necessary to alert other drivers of immediate danger. Unnecessary honking can escalate tensions and provoke aggressive reactions.
• Be aware of the surroundings. Stay vigilant for signs of aggressive driving, such as tailgating, erratic lane changes, or excessive speeding. If you notice these behaviors, maintain a safe distance and avoid engaging.
• Don’t engage. If another driver exhibits aggressive behavior, don’t retaliate. Avoid eye contact, refrain from making rude gestures, and resist the urge to speed up or block their path. Instead, focus on your own driving and safety.
Tips to avoid your own road rage
Here are some tips for RVers to consider. Hopefully, these ideas will help you keep your own road rage in check.
• Plan ahead. Allow extra time for your trips to reduce stress. Rushing increases the likelihood of frustration and aggressive driving.
• Stay calm. Practice deep breathing or listen to calming music to maintain composure. Studies suggest that listening to soothing tunes can decrease driving anxiety and enhance focus.
• Avoid distractions. Stay focused on the road by minimizing distractions. Avoid using your phone or engaging in activities that take your attention away from driving.
• Be courteous. Simple acts of kindness, like allowing others to merge or yielding the right of way, can reduce tension and promote a more pleasant driving experience.
If confronted by an aggressive driver
• Avoid confrontation. If an aggressive driver approaches, don’t engage. Keep your doors locked and windows up and avoid making eye contact or responding to gestures. Be sure other riders in your RV follow your lead!
• Report dangerous behavior. If you feel threatened, ask your travel partner to call 911 or the local law enforcement. Provide a description of the vehicle, license information, and its location.
• Don’t go home. If you’re being followed, don’t drive home or go to your campground. Instead, head to a public place or a police station. Avoid stopping until you’re in a safe location.
What about you?
Have you ever experienced a road rage incident while RVing? Were you involved or someone else? Tell us about it in the comments below, please.
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RVT1213
Unless alternate routes are impractical, we stay off I-dash-hell highways. I’m not wanted, and likely hated. ST trailer tires are typically rated at 65mph. I set my adaptive cruise at 63mph knowing I may creep up to 65mph going downhill. Even the semis get aggressive.
This spring (not towing) I was in the RH lane going the speed limit on cruise. It was hilly, but without a trailer I could maintain a consistent speed. A semi would creep up the hill then let his truck speed to about 15mph over the speed limit coming down the hill. I could be in the LH lane, but it would block other faster traffic. The semi driver obviously got frustrated by my steady speed.
Get a dash camera. Prices are all over the dial. Recommend highly one that has an internal GPS.
This. For $100 or less a dash cam is very very simple to setup and power via USB or cig lighter. Admissable evidence in court that can prove your innocence and someone else’s guilt.
A dashcam is your best weapon, especially when it comes to someone cutting you off, or pulling in front of you to take an exit.
I had one instance where I was driving in the center lane, trucks were in the right lane.
I could see a car tailgating me in me rear camera.
I slowed down slightly hoping he would go around me. Well he did and got in front of me and hit his brakes. Then he got beside me and started yelling out of his window. I ignored him and he again pulled on front and brake checked again.
I think he may have seen the camera because he just sped off.
Nothing happened, but I did have video of the entire incident.
Stay in the right lane. Keep your RV in the right lane unless you’re passing.
This is the law in most states for all vehicles. Unless you are passing or about to pass you should be in the right lane.
This works great, except in small cities where there is constant merging on to the right lane by crazy people. Center lane is safest in metros.
….and the risk of someone opening a car door into the traffic lane – i.e., Duluth, MN as well as others.
Wanderer, you’ve finally mentioned what every other commenter has not considered, at least in print. Yes, there are often more lanes than two. On multi-lane highways with lots of exiting and merging, for me, I don’t sit in the right lane. As well, some exits have both “right” lanes exiting and your safety is compromised every time you need to change lanes if you’re driving a big rig. Cars are more maneuverable than a big RV, so, for the most part, I let them go around me.
You can’t control the other guy’s behavior but you can control your own.
When someone tries to trigger you, just remind yourself you’re in an RV out on adventure and the stiff that gave you the bird isn’t.
The road belongs to no one, you have just as much right to use a lane as the misguided rager that thinks you don’t.
You’re in a tall, wide, slow, rock slinging rig that isn’t an Indy car but the rager’s ride isn’t an F1 either so who’s the fool trying to drive like an Andretti?
Lastly, if you’re in the right, there’s zero reason to be mad. If you’re in the wrong, you can’t afford to be mad. It only furthers your stupidity.
And get a dashcam to record people doing idiotic things to you.
I always try to stay in the right lane, because it is the law except in urban areas, and run about 65mph. When I approach an interchange with an on ramp to my right I try to change to left lane. Too many yo-yo’s out there that want to play chicken when they get on the highway, or are scared to death to accelerate to highway speed.
We just had a woman to the Pocono’s in a road rage incident. Shot a person in the forehead with a small caliber gun. As far as I know the person is alive in the hospital. The woman is in jail.
I pulled my 40′ 5th wheel all over the West for about 10 years and have now downsized to a 30′ Class C. I set my cruise at 64 MPH on the highways and rarely pass anyone except for slow semi’s. I don’t even know what my horn sounds like as I don’t think I have ever used it. I want to get where I want to get where I am going just as much as anyone else, but I carry precious cargo and I won’t do anything to endanger that. Safe Travels.
Better not signal with the one finger salute anymore…good way to become a statistic.
My wife and I were in Florida, we were accosted by guy with road rage, he drove into the back of us at a corner intersection. Beat up an innocent bystander. We got an all expense paid trip to Florida via Southwest airlines and Hampton inn for the trial. He was convicted and he is now serving seven and a half years in the Florida correctional system. We are afraid when he gets out that he will come looking for us. We have a very uncommon name and he knows what state and city we live in.
In California, even on 65 and 70 mph interstates the law requires all vehicles that have more than two axels and all vehicles towing anything is limited to 55 mph. Away from cities, in my two-axel class A motorhome towing the 1999 Honda CR-V that we bought new we are supposed to stay at 55 mph. The occasional big rig does. Most are in the 60 to 65 mph range and the occasional big rig is probably going 70. I don’t try to verify that. Depending upon the situation I will boost our speed up to 60 but usual cruise at about 58. If I only have one lane, I don’t try to regulate traffic. I go at prevailing speed but not over 65. Drivers need to not annoy one another.
Thank you for the suggestions, Gail! Road rage? Certainly numerous times on my commute into and out of DC for 20+ years. I grew so tired of it that I followed your first suggestion and left for work by 4:30 AM, or earlier. Thankfully, retirement put an end to that after 3 or 4 years of it. While RVing? Thankfully, no. Have seen speeding and erratic lane changes. But, we putter along in the right lane whenever possible. I am always on the lookout for pulloffs to take and allow the pent-up traffic to flow past before returning to the roadway while driving Canada’s and Alaska’s one-lane roads. Have a great week and safe travels!
Luckily we have not met many road-ragers on our west coast travels. When we have it’s usually in heavily dense cities. We have only had to use our horn once. It is a rather loud horn, which gets immediate attention. Best always to stay cool, have your GPS on (we use Waze and Truck Map apps) to guide us towards the correct lane/s early.
One time I was approaching my exit and about 3 miles short I came upon a group of about 20 vehicles in both lanes all at the speed limit. Got in the right lane and turned on my right turn signal to exit and EVERY vehicle got in the right lane and got off. Usually exit rate there is about 1 in 10 or less.