News item from November 14, 2018:
LAKELAND, FL — A 47-year-old Naples man died Sunday in a one-vehicle accident on Interstate 4.
Florida Highway Patrol investigators say Jon MacDonough died at the scene just before 5 p.m. after the RV he was driving had a tire blow out, left the road, hit a light pole and overturned onto its left side. It happened near mile marker 31 at the Kathleen Road interchange.
FHP noted alcohol was not involved and that MacDonough was wearing his seatbelt.
Please, please watch this important video about what to do if the RV (or other vehicle) you are driving blows a tire. What you learn could save your life.
A Good Video if you own a Motorhome. But, should have another video posted for those of us who have travel trailers and 5th wheels. There are different forces that act on these vehicles.
If this company has made a video for Travel Trailers and 5th Wheels, it should be posted here as well!
The video clearly stated that the maneuver is to be used no matter what vehicle is being driven. I learned in the military…trust your training and your equipment. I have watched this video several times over the years. My wife does most of the driving and had a front left blow out. The maneuver allowed her to maintain control of our 40’DP. I cant help but think that excessive speed is often a contributing factor to RV wrecks when tires blow.
This seems like good advice for a rear wheel drive RV situation. However, the video said the same forces & techniques would apply to any vehicle of any size but I wonder if that’s what’s called for in a car/auto with front wheel drive…? Some newer FWD vehicles with bigger engines and even high-end FWD hybrids have a lot of torque available and tromping down on the accelerator might cause a lot of ‘torque oversteer’ that an inexperienced driver with lots of HP/torque on-tap might not be expecting and launch the vehicle in a undesired direction. It seems the most effective guidance would be what has always been taught; NEVER touch the brake, increase throttle a small amount in order to assist rapid steering response to keep the vehicle going straight, then gradually slow down and apply brakes at a slow speed…..???
Install a set of Tyron Bands on the two front wheels and IF you do by chance have a front tire blowout your chances of surviving the ordeal are much better than without.
It had those installed. They were useless.
I do wish the police or DOT would issue a report on the findings of the reason for the tire failure. Tires just do not suddenly “Blow-Up” for no reason. Since there was a fatality I am surprised there apparently was no investigation and report issued by a Tire Forensic Engineer.
I agree with you 100 percent!
I wonder if the “Safe-T-Plus” device would have helped in this situation. It appears to be a decades old device used to assist Trucks, School Bus and RV’s. Many videos showing it in action as they purposefully blow a front tire, yet it helps maintain forward control. Does anyone have experience with this device?
Link to Safe-T-Plus testing. The tests are near the end of the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT2RbQZtFx8
sure seems like a lot of stories like this. Is it the tires you buy or stupid people or aged out tires and the cost of replacing them (what I think) given the potential for damage or death. New tires when they age out regardless of mileage. Not worth it to me I’ll just stick with my 5th wheel with Sailun’s and the truck with Michelin’s.