Safe Driving Tips For and Around Recreational Vehicles
California has some of the busiest roads in the nation. There are many beautiful sites to see while driving alongside a seaside roadway. Many tourists flock to California and take the drive just for the stunning views. At times the views compete with one of the nation’s most notorious traffic congestions. These factors contribute to the likelihood of being involved in a car accident.
One of the wisest things you can do is to take precautions to reduce your chances of being involved in a car crash. Whether you prefer to drive a recreational vehicle (RV), Motor home, or Trailer, you must understand that you must drive the vehicle safely & carefully on California’s freeways and campgrounds. You must also safely park, which may not be as easy as it seems since driving an RV or motor home is not like driving a car, SUV, or family van.
This article will help you understand some helpful driving tips for driving RVs. It will also help general motorists when sharing the road with RVs.
Below are seven essential tips to help you stay safe on the road:
- Adhere to the Speed Limit
The most critical factor to be mindful of is that driving an RV is not the same as driving a sports car or sedan. The RV is substantially larger in size, wider, and heavier. It can be tempting to flow with traffic and travel above the speed limit. This can be especially true if you’re running on a time schedule and want to make up for lost time. However, the faster you travel, the longer it will take you to stop an RV. You should take proper precautions, always keeping a safe following distance and slowing down for turns.
Those sharing the road with recreational vehicles will also want to maintain a safe driving distance if the RV fails to stop or is faced with a sudden hazard on the road.
- Stay in the Middle Lane
This precaution may go against what we’ve been taught in driving 101. Usually, the basic freeway rule is that vehicles should stay on the far-right unless passing another car. Yet, the middle lane is a safer option when driving an RV. Class A motorhomes are much wider when compared to ordinary cars. Plus, staying in the middle lane will ensure a consistent speed. Vehicles in the right lane also have the additional distraction of cars entering the roadway from on-ramps. This would increase an RV’s chances of changing lanes.
- Lane Changes and Mirror Usage
Many motorhomes or trailers have no rear views, except for the rearview mirror. That means it’s crucial to know how to use those rearview mirrors correctly and constantly. As the driver, you should know the large blind spots that the rear mirrors have and account for those when driving.
When changing lanes, you should leave a safe following distance behind your recreational vehicle and the car in front of you. Having your turn signal on is essential when driving oversized vehicles because it alerts the drivers who share the road that you are attempting to change lanes. Check your rearview mirrors and all blind spots before moving into another lane.
- Avoid Distractions
Focused drivers avoid car accidents because they can respond to what the road throws at them. Avoiding distractions while inside an RV or other recreational vehicle can be challenging. Especially when it’s filled with noisy passengers like children, pets, and other family members taking the trip. When driving an RV, it’s essential to set expectations with the passengers to the extent possible. Also, ignore talking or texting on your cell phone. If you need to eat, it’s safer to pull over and take a break. That way, if something occurs, you will be able to respond a lot quicker.
- Driving Restful
Driving a larger and wider vehicle requires additional attention. This is especially true if you don’t frequently drive RVs or other large vehicles. If you aren’t well-rested, you increase your chances of a car accident. Because of the size of an RV compared to other cars and cyclists it shares the road with, any accident has the potential to be catastrophic. If you are traveling a long distance, it’s best to stop every two or three hours. You can coordinate the stops with eating, bathroom breaks, getting gas or stretching. That way, you don’t feel like you are wasting time. The break will also prevent eye strain during the trip.
- Driving With Both Hands on the Wheel
This piece of advice isn’t only valid for RVs. Removing hands from the steering wheel can delay your response time should an emergency arise. When you are driving an RV or larger vehicle, every second matters because the vehicle’s weight may require a longer time to stop or take control should there be a sudden obstacle.
- Slow down for Hills
Usually, RVs do not have powerful engines. If they go up a long, steep hill, there is the potential that an RV can get overheated. It’s essential to be mindful of that when driving uphill. Don’t drive at a maximum speed. Instead, slow the vehicle down.
When driving downhill, the breaks have the potential to overheat quickly. Slowing down can also help prevent this.
CONTACT A LAWYER FOR ASSISTANCE
If you were injured in a car accident caused by an RV, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. California’s car accident attorneys at Castillo & Associates are available to speak with you about your legal rights and potential options if you have been injured in a car crash. To schedule a free consultation visits our page here, or call 1 800-497-9774. We have recovered over 300 million dollars in compensation for our clients to date. We can help you determine your options and guide you further in each step of the process. Our experienced attorneys at Castillo & Associates can help you gather any evidence you may need to get the maximum benefits for your injury.
At Castillo & Associates, we have offices conveniently located throughout Southern California in Los Angeles County, Inland Empire, Coachella Valley, and the San Diego area of Mission Valley. We are Bilingual Attorneys and have over 33 years of combined experience in Workers Compensation Claims & Workers Compensation Law as well as Personal Injury Law.
Attorney Domingo Castillo handles workers’ compensation, personal injury, family law & immigration throughout Southern California from our 5 offices: Indio, Pomona, Riverside, San Diego & Cathedral City. We help clients file injury claims, obtain residency & citizenship, and we assist families through divorce, child custody and all family law matters.
