Safe Rving

Before you hit the road:

• Inspect brakes, tires, fluids, and lights as well as test your rigs plumbing and electric systems to insure everything is working properly. Make sure you hot water heater, refrigerator, and furnace ignite properly; clean out cobwebs from outside openings to these utilities.
• Check that hitch and coupling system are in proper working order (no frayed wires, cables aren’t cracked, etc.)
• Sit in the driver’s seat and adjust the mirrors and seat for optimal views and comfort.
• Don’t forget to wear seat-belts - both you and passengers. If Fido or Fluffy is going, make sure they have a safe and secure place.

On the Road:

• RV driving skills do improve with practice. And back-up will improve with the communication between two people.
• Each day, before starting out, check fluids, brakes and tires, adjust mirrors, check hitch and coupling system and lights, especially turn brake and signals.
• Allow more time and space for everything. No recreational vehicle turns or stops on a dime and it does take up more space when changing lanes and merging.
• Do a “walk-around” before starting your day’s drive and at every stop. Sense heat and note smells, as well as, noting tire conditions.
• Study your route - knowing the route is essential.
• Know your personal limitations. There are aids to help us adapt to our limitations. A great place for suggestions and to find what might work and where to get it is www.rv.net.
• Always signal your intentions. And acknowledge signals from others. One useful signal truckers use is a quick double flash of high beam lights to tell the passing vehicle they have enough room to pull in front of you safely.
• Expect the unexpected - watch what’s going on quarter mile ahead of you.
• Trucks have blind spots and so do you. Try to maximize your field of view but also be aware of your blind spots.
• To reduce wear-and-tear on your rig, as well as your patience and marriage, avoid crowded, slow moving, rush hour traffic.
• Take a tip from truck drivers and come down a mountain in the same gear and same speed as you did going up. Use your brakes sparingly, they could overheat and fail, and use your transmission’s lower gears to get off the mountain safely.
• Listen to local radio stations for traffic slow downs, accidents, weather conditions, road conditions, etc. With advance notice, your navigator and trusted map might be able to find an alternative route.