Have you had your share of close calls while driving your RV over the years?
If so, you may very well be counting your blessings that no serious injuries occurred to you and yours, along with other drivers and passengers.
That said having as much safety in place as possible should always be a top priority. As anyone having driven an RV (you included) can note, RV’s take much more attention to detail than your cars and smaller trucks.
So, how can you set out on safer trails when you and your RV hit America’s roadways?
Driver Safety Must Always Be a Priority
So that you are able to better navigate America’s roads with safety as a top focus, keep the following pointers in mind:
- Driving habits – First and foremost, are your driving habits those of a safe driver or someone liking to push things to the edge? If you’re in the latter group, think seriously about changing such habits. In many cases, you are only defying injuries and possibly even death for so long. By becoming a better driver, you not only protect you and yours, but also others sharing the roadways;
- RV safety features – How well equipped is your RV when it comes to safety features? From backup cameras for your RV to the best in anti-lock brakes and more, your recreational vehicle should give you as much safety as possible (see more below). If it doesn’t, you are setting yourself and others up for trouble. If you are thinking about purchasing a new RV down the road, look at the various safety options each one has. While you will undoubtedly pay some more money for a better-equipped RV, can you truly put a price on safety? In some cases, you may be able to retrofit your current RV to make it safer for the roads.
Where You Headed?
- Plan accordingly – One of the main reasons people purchase RV’s is to travel locally and far away. With that in mind, be sure to add safety to your travel plans. That means taking trips at the right time of year. For example, driving in the wintertime may dictate avoiding certain areas of the country, areas known for volatile winter weather. Although it may seem pretty to be in the mountains etc. don’t do it if you will be risking your safety and the safety of others. It is better to save such trips for summertime, giving you much better weather with which to deal with. If you do go into areas that are prone to major snow and ice, do so carefully. Your RV can be more challenging to control in such conditions as a result of its size. Trying to stop an RV on an icy surface is typically much more difficult than a car or even small truck;
- Maintenance check-ups – Finally, servicing your RV on a regular basis is important, especially as it gets older. If you plan on keeping your recreational vehicle as long as possible, be sure to give it regular maintenance. Simple things like regular fluid changes, replacing the tires as they get older, making sure the brakes are working at top capacity etc. are all important steps to practice. You should also be sure the inside of the RV is maintained regularly. If it isn’t, you could end up causing an accident due to bad seating, windows that are scratched from the inside etc.
Enjoying Your Time on the Road
Having an RV can lead to some of the best times of your life.
The key (as with just about anything in life) is to make sure you practice safety and ultimately commonsense whenever behind the wheel.
Avoiding mechanical problems, bad decisions when operating your RV etc. all lessen the chances of becoming the next accident victim.
If RV safety is on your mind heading into 2017, be driven to make it the best year yet.