By Ray Burr, loveyourrv.com
The right lane is your friend. There are many advantages to staying in the far right lane: it’s where the slower traffic like your RV is expected to be; you can see better behind you using the driver’s side mirror; in an emergency the shoulder is right there for a pull-over.
Learn to anticipate: Driving a heavy rig is a disadvantage when braking and accelerating. Most other drivers are unaware of our limitations and will perform the most stupid maneuvers with blissful ignorance. RV drivers need to constantly anticipate the traffic all around to take action as soon as possible. Leave a fair distance in front of the rig for braking, but keep on the lookout for those who will use that space for a quick darting maneuver. Anticipate traffic slowdowns by keeping an eye out far ahead and watch for brake lights. If you see a bunch light up, expect to be needing to brake soon yourself.
Watch the truckers: Truckers often have some of the best and most experience on the Interstate. It’s handy in large cities to notice which lanes the bulk of the truck traffic is taking when navigating their way through. Having driven through many times, they usually know what is the best lane to be in to move through in the safest and most efficient manner. If you have a CB radio, listen to the truckers chatter and pick up information on the road ahead. If there is an accident or construction, they relay it back to other truckers on the CB channels.
Watch your rear: Take into account that there may be someone right behind you. With the length of your RV, the blind spot behind can be fairly large and it’s easy for a car to hide back there. Many RVs are equipped with rear cameras, which is great — but if you don’t have one, always remember that at anytime someone may dart out from behind you.
Make slow, deliberate movements: Have your turn signal on well in advance and move over slowly. This gives the other drivers a chance to correct themselves if they are darting out from behind you or coming upon you at a high rate of speed. Brake well in advance and slowly, giving tailgaters a chance to see you’re slowing down.
Plot your course, especially when navigating through large metropolitan areas. Know your turns, the exit numbers, and which lane is best to be in well before you get there. The worst thing to do is try and force yourself across several lanes of traffic to get to an exit. Have a look at the roadway from a satellite view. We are able to use our iPad to see a bird’s eye view of the highway and know ahead of time what the road pattern is for exits, and from that information we know the best lane to be in. This comes in real handy when there is a left-hand lane exit versus the standard right-hand variety.
Be well rested: Interstates are a demanding environment for RVers. You need to have all your wits about you and it takes sustained concentration to make your travels safe. It’s just not worth saving time if you’re starting to get tired. Take a break! It may save your or another’s life. Bad things always seem to happen when you’re tired and not paying full attention. This is why they have those things called Rest Stops.
Watch for debris: A common threat is pieces of tires from blowouts on the big rigs. Another is stuff like chairs and mattresses which have fallen off vehicles. This is another reason it pays to be always anticipating and scanning far ahead. It’s also another good reason to travel in the right lane next to the shoulder because then you have somewhere to go if you quickly need to avoid an object.
Avoid bad weather: Poor weather while traveling increases your risks dramatically. Why push through during a driving rainstorm, snow, ice or fog when you can pull over and wait it out? When something goes wrong on an Interstate during poor weather, it usually is bad.
Have a well-maintained rig: Rig failures on the Interstate have consequences that magnify. A blowout on a two-lane rural road is a lot less concerning than on a packed eight-lane Interstate. Anything you can do to decrease the likelihood of mechanical failure is worth it. Make sure your tires are in excellent shape and properly inflated and that the lug nuts are tight. Make sure your brakes are in perfect shape. It’s also extremely important that all signal and marker lights are functioning properly.
##RVDT1437
Excellent!
Excellent pointers. I would add that if you find yourself in the wrong lane to make an exit often the best decision is to continue on and take the next exit instead of making a dangerous maneuver to make your exit.
I used to use the old CB but to much adult language for young ears in the vehicle. I still have the cable installed for the antenna but never use it any more. Smart phone apps like WAZE for traffic and 5.0 app for police & fire scanner is much better to use.
The “old CB” is still your best bet when stuck in traffic and you want to know what’s going on. Sadly, not too many truckers use them anymore, and I’m not sure why. When I retired I took my best CB and put it in my pickup for all our RV trips.
Great common sense information for RV drivers
Ray Burr has a great list here! Should be re-posted (with permission) on other RV sites.
Very helpful. I always have issues if I’m on a 3 lane interstate and I’m in the right lane and there is an entrance ramp for traffic entering the interstate (I’m pulling a 28′ travel trailer with a large 3/4 ton truck). I try and time it so that any vehicles will enter before or after I pass. But it’s harder when it’s a busy entrance ramp and multiple cars are entering at once. If the center lane is clear I try and move over but sometimes that’s busy as well. Definitely requires patience and planning.
Good advice. I’ll add to that, drive moderate speeds and don’t weave in and out of traffic.
Recently a truck driver instructor said again what another said years ago. If you are driving the speed limit the safest place for the RV is center lane if a 3 lane interstate, right lane on 2 lane roads. Less lane crossing and on ramp traffic that cannot judge the RV speed or stopping distance. I mentioned some states do not permit trucks in the far (3rd) left lane to the last instructor. He said they are professionals and should be driving the limit too. Besides, if you have room to move over he has room to pass inside.
All good suggestions. I prefer to be in the right lane, just wish people would learn how to merge and that the right lane wasn’t so beat up…
I’ve heard it jokingly said that if you’re in bad weather you’re using your RV incorrectly . I would expand that to 8 lane highways. Use the advantages the RV provides to avoid those situations as much as possible.
I stay in the right lane except going thru cities where are 3 or more lanes. Whenever possible I go in the middle lane (or 2nd to the right). I find it cuts down on having to change lanes and avoids having to deal with merging traffic.
Stay in the same lane and at the same speed in the middle lane in the big cities I find works fine.
when driving thru large urban areas any area that has many exits/entrance ramps we prefer the center lane (if there is one). many drivers do not know how to safely enter and merge onto a busy interstate and if we’re in the center lane we won’t have to deal with them. k
Very good article, Ray.
We drive a 41 foot motor home towing a car we have had way too many close calls in urban areas when people just pull out in front while entering the highway. I believe some of these people think I’m going to come to a complete stop, they have no idea what is on my left side nor do they care. If there are three or more lanes I camp out in the middle
You can anticipate a left sided exit by the location of the exit number on the overhead sign- the number will be on the left, and on the right for a right sided exit.
As mentioned, watch for the “gators”. These are the pieces of semi truck tires left after blow outs. My son hit one once and it bent an axle on his Keystone 32 foot trailer. Bent axle destroyed three tires before he could get back home.
My part time “retirement” job is driving a 45’ Prevost motor coach. One of the most valuable driving habits that bus driving has helped me improve is scanning the traffic further ahead. Every second counts when you have to stop a big rig and seeing those brake lights up ahead instead of on the vehicle directly in front of you can make all the difference.
In rural areas I agree that staying in the right lane is generally safest. However in busy urban areas where traffic is still flowing at near speed limit speeds and many cars are merging onto the interstate I disagree with the advice of staying in the right lane. If a center lane is available, and many times it is, I will generally drive in that lane to avoid dealing with merging traffic. Some drivers don’t realize that when merging onto the interstate, they do not have the right of way or they aren’t paying attention. Other times with many cars merging, it just makes sense to get out of the way.