What would happen if you were in a situation like in the video below where a truck was sliding straight toward you? What would you do? It would be hard enough in a car, but can you imagine trying to maneuver a 20,000- to 40,000-pound RV around a sliding truck speeding toward you on its side? This driver did an impressive job, but we can’t imagine everyone would react like this. Study the safe driving tips below so you know how to react in case anything like this happens to you.
Driver reacts calmly to a tight situation
by u/Mobarekxi in nonononoyes
Page Contents
Safe driving tips
Stop
- Stopping distances are greatly increased in an RV more than in a car. The much-heavier RV will require several times the “normal” distance to stop.
- Begin braking for stop signs, lights, and construction areas well in advance of when you normally would. Even if you could stop quickly, you won’t want to. The typical motorhome is a large collection of loose objects such as books, cameras, dishes, and pets, which can all fly forward.
Wear seat belts
- Wear seat belts. Ever notice that reports of vehicle passenger injuries, and particularly deaths, indicate if they were wearing a seat belt or not? There is a reason for that.
- Make the passengers wear their seat belts, too. And use a car seat for the kids.
- If you’re in a motorhome, it is a good idea to stop for potty breaks rather than walking around in a moving vehicle.
No tailgating
- Don’t tailgate! Make it a habit when driving your RV to never follow another vehicle too closely. Allow space to stop or change lanes in an emergency. The suggested distance is at least 300 feet between vehicles.
- Allow room for faster traffic to pass or merge.
- Dim headlights within 200 feet of an oncoming vehicle ahead of you. It’s the law!
Watch the weather
- It is much more difficult to control an RV in bad weather. Be aware of weather events in areas you are driving in and to. There are a number of good apps to help do that.
- Slow down in heavy rain as well as dusty, windy and icy conditions.
- Know when to stop and take a break or find a campsite.
Plan for the worst and know your surroundings
- Drive defensively and always have a plan.
- Keep an eye open for an escape and know your surroundings at all times. Is the shoulder solid? Are there places to exit or turn off in an emergency?
- Can you avoid stuff on the roadway without swerving or hitting it?
- Can you pull back if items on the vehicle in front of you come flying off? Even semitruck loads come free sometimes, not to mention the casual pickup truck that’s full of household items. Ever notice the stray pillow or broken chair on the side of the highway? I have found that recycling trucks can spew a snowstorm of paper.
Call 911 to report driving safety hazards
Erratic drivers? Distracted or inebriated? Call 911 and report. You could save someone’s life.
##RVDT2177
There are people who in an emergency can push everything aside, not freeze, take command and act quickly and logically. The panic, if it sets in, doesn’t happen until it’s over. I’m one of those. But based on the number of clumsy, bone-headed mistakes in my life, it is certainly not a persistent state of mind. The skill appears only when most needed.
I think you could use some other piece of news for your article. The language in the comments is not what I consider appropriate in this family oriented literature. Once again grab a subject and start typing without researching content. You should’ve omitted the comments.
Or you could have stopped reading them.
Yes I could and did, but would say a child? You may be the type of person that doesn’t find anything offensive in that kind of language but I do. And I don’t think offensive language is appropriate for children. They are exposed to enough garbage in their lives as is.
Are there lots of children that subscribe to and read this RV Travel newsletter?
I was wondering the same thing.
Very rarely does he comment to the positive. Must not have had his coffee today or on most days he comments.
I did notice that the video is from Europe, tag on car, and that the car that was on the shoulder was stopped prior to the truck sliding/tipping on side and striking the car. The driver of the vehicle filming handled this appropriately to avoid a crash. One more reason to stay to the right lanes (I know that this was a two lane road).
The driver of the stopped car is very lucky that the trailer didn’t hit him.
I don’t think so. Mostly older folks here.