Escapees March-April 2019 Vol 40 Issue 5

“Think back on some the choices you’ve made in your RV, both pre-trip and on the road...Why were those options chosen? What was it that you did or didn’t do that could have altered the outcome?”

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GETTING THERE IS THE GOAL

So, what does a mature driver do to get rid of a tailgater? You should always be aware of who’s behind you and how close they are to your vehicle. There’s no defense if you’re unaware of the tailgater. First, open up the space between you and the vehicle ahead. This gives you time to stop slowly if necessary. By stopping slowly, you allow the tailgater to also slow down. Second, by slowing, it encourages the tailgater to pass. If that doesn’t work, pull into the next lane, if possible, only if it’s safe to do so. If that option isn’t available, pull off the road or exit the roadway. The defenses are worth the effort. If the tailgater that hits you is a mini-cooper, the damage may not be bad. But, if that tailgater is a 60,000-pound gasoline tanker, then you and your RV might be toast! Don’t play games with a tailgater, and don’t ever ignore one. What if you’re the tailgater? You have total control over how close you travel behind another vehicle. In an RV, five seconds behind the vehicle ahead is barely enough. Staying far behind it is being safe. When driving a class-A motorhome, there is not much between you and the front impact zone. Anything you might hit could join you in the “cockpit.”

  Now that two critical driving tasks, the vehicles ahead and behind, are being effectively handled, what about all those other vehicles? Dealing with the vehicle beside you is easy and important. Don’t leave them there. Any vehicle beside you is only a few feet from joining you on your journey. If a truck blows a steering tire, or has to veer out of their lane, your options are gone. You won’t have time to react before you’re hit. Passing vehicles are a constant concern. During the passing maneuver, the other vehicle presents a hazard, but it’s only temporary and an unavoidable situation. What is important is reducing the exposure time. When a vehicle passes, back off a little, if possible, reducing the time the pass takes. Normally, in a car, I recommend driving the speed of traffic. However, in an RV on multi- lane roads, I find driving five mph below the traffic speed helps to keep tailgaters off my back by encouraging them to pass, reducing the time it takes to complete the pass. It’s arguable, but I find it works. Do whatever is reasonable and safe to avoid traveling beside another vehicle.

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