At the young age of 50 (back in July) I decided to buy a 38' motorhome and see some more of our great country! After several months of travelling, I've observed some really dumb motorhome drivers, and have picked up on the fact that there isn't a whole lot of love lost between the Motorhome/Trucker drivers.
Obviously, I'm a GREAT driver! I make sure I know where you guys are, get over to let you pass, flash you in if you've got someone on your tail and ALWAYS flash my markers when you flash me in after passing. I stay out of your way at Flying J. I DO, however, sometimes take one of your spots at a rest area (Well - it does say Campers --->)
Assuming I could use some improvement in sharing the road, and knowing that there are other motorhome drivers that definitely could, what are some of the things I can do to keep us all safe out there? (I mean, besides stay home)
Sharing the Road - Trucks and Motorhomes
Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by expeditionguy, Dec 10, 2007.
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The biggest thing to remember is that most of the trucks out there are governed to some speed (usu 65 mph), and as a result one may pull out to pass and then not be able to finish passing! And the governed trucks will be a REAL pain in the hills: You will pass some of them going up the grade, and then have to get the hell outta the way when they come screaming down it.
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Yep, gotta get a running start for the next hill.
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The problem I had is...my first truck was governed at 65mph so I would need to get up speed to pass a motor home....but then one day i was trying to pass a slow mobile home and the driver would speed up just as I started to pass...then I would have to fall back behind him again...and this went on for a while until I finally passed him on an upgrade...and when I did he blew his horn and gave me a nasty gesture with his middle finger....I laughed at him and kept on with the hammer down....
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I've never had the nerve to flip off a woman driver... but in general, the motorhome drivers don't have to have any additional training and they're more leisurely drivers.
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moter home drivers should have too take a driving test , before thay get be hind the weel,let say class c drivers lic.
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You have to love the motor home drivers.
Left to center, right to center...
What the heck center to center! -
In Michigan, I studied for just one day to get my Class C CDL (Chauffeur's license) and took a written test. They really need more of a course to see how their driving affects traffic and some videos to show them how cutting off a semi can put so many lives in danger. Even at the CDL school, I've been cut off so many times it's unbelievable. I think a few people at McDonald's heard a semi was coming through town, threw away the rest of their lunch, and waited patiently for the opportunity to pull out in front of me.
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A test might not be a bad idea. While I'd rented several C-Class RVs and an A-Class, when I finally got around to buying, the "driver training" was 5 minutes in an abandoned Wal-Mart parking lot and a 10 minute trip on I75. If you've never driven anything bigger than an SUV, it's a big step up to gain an awareness of how much road you take up.
I think one problem that Motorhome drivers have is that a lot of people have never learned to use their mirrors, or don't bother checking them. Thankfully, one of my summer jobs (19 maybe?) was driving a stake-body chase truck for a mobile home company. There were times when we'd back down long dirt roads with the truck, toter and trailer - I learned real quick how to back up with my mirrors, and insure I had a good idea of what was happening on both sides of me.
Another problem, and this isn't motorhome specific - though I've seen too many of MH drivers guilty, is that too many people are completely unaware of what anyone else is doing around them. If you're screaming down a hill in the left lane, you'd better believe I 1) already know you're coming and 2) have already figured out how to get out of your way. I swear, too many people out there are only looking at the 40' of road in front of them. -
Well EG, it's good to hear that you are not like the vast majority of MH drivers out there. Thank You! Especially since you take the time to drive carefully, doing mirror checks and paying attention to what's going on around you.
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