As an RV driver, you’ll be sharing the roads with all kinds of different automobiles, together with vehicles. Right here’s what RV drivers can do when sharing the street with truckies to assist be certain that all of us get dwelling safely to our households.
#1. Know a truck driver’s blind spots
Vans could have bigger mirrors and be larger off the street than you in your RV, however that doesn’t imply the driving force has a greater view of what’s happening round them. In truth, vehicles have a lot bigger blind spots than common automobiles and RVs. We just lately had the chance to climb up right into a truck and expertise first-hand simply how a lot visibility a truck driver doesn’t have. You possibly can see it for your self on Episode 1 of Are You RV Secure? at 12:30 pm, seventh September 2024 on Channel 10. These blind spots are one thing that each one RV drivers – and any driver for that matter – ought to have a wholesome respect for.
There are 4 most important blind spots for truck drivers. The primary two are apparent, these are:
The opposite two are much less apparent till you truly sit in a truck and expertise it first-hand. These are:
Truck drivers rely closely on their facet mirrors to see what’s happening round them, so in the event you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, you might be most definitely in a blind spot, and there’s a superb probability the driving force doesn’t know you’re there.
#2. Don’t pull out or squeeze in entrance of a truck
Truck drivers attempt to go away a pleasant giant hole in entrance of them as, given their measurement and weight, they will’t gradual to a cease in the identical method as a regular car. In suburban areas, in the event you have been to squeeze into that security hole along with your RV when approaching visitors lights as you navigate which lane will get you there quickest, you’ll most definitely end up immediately in entrance of the truck. Yep, that’s proper, in its blind spot and within the truck’s security hole for slowing down.
Should you’re in a rural space and pull out onto the freeway after, say, filling up with gas, it’s potential that the oncoming truck you pulled in entrance of will be unable to interrupt in time to assist you to come as much as the 100 km/hour it’s most definitely travelling at. It’s higher to be affected person and look ahead to the truck to go. In spite of everything, the truck driver is on a decent schedule, and also you’re on vacation.
#3. Use your UHF to speak with truck drivers
Communication is essential to sharing the street safely with truck drivers. Get your self a UHF and learn to talk with not solely truckies however different RVs in your convoy. Extra info on learn how to talk with each vehicles and RVs by way of UHF will be discovered within the RVSafe handbook, which you’ll obtain without cost by clicking on the button beneath:
Channel 40 is the street security channel Australia-wide and is used primarily by truckies and heavy automobiles. So, by tuning into this channel, you need to use it to speak with truck drivers, help them in overtaking you, and get a pre-warning of any upcoming hazards. Flick to channel 18 to speak with different RVs in your convoy.
#4. Unfold out your RV convoy
Should you’re travelling in a convoy with different RVs, hold your distance from one another to permit vehicles and different automobiles room to overhaul you one after the other. Should you’re all too shut collectively, will probably be not possible for anybody to overhaul you safely, not to mention a truck.
#5. Respect the ‘vehicles solely’ relaxation areas
Truckies are required to cease and relaxation by regulation, so in the event you’re in an RV, you’ll be able to’t use the ‘vehicles solely’ relaxation areas to camp. Should you’re in a shared relaxation cease, be thoughtful and go away area for the vehicles to park.
As common drivers of those roads, truck drivers may have deliberate their journey to reach at a sure time at a selected truck relaxation cease to remain throughout the authorized driving intervals and get to their supply level on time. So sure, they’ll understandably be fairly upset to seek out an RV parked in the midst of their stopping bay.
#6. Don’t overtake turning vehicles
All vehicles may have a “don’t overtake turning car” signal on the again of their rig. It’s not only for present and its the regulation to obey this signal. The rationale for this signal is that the majority bigger automobiles (together with giant RVs) must encroach into the second lane when turning or maneuvering roundabouts. Should you’re in that lane after they accomplish that, effectively ….that’s a recipe for catastrophe.
#7. Don’t overtake a street prepare in your RV
Give it some thought, if that street prepare goes 90 km/h and you might be doing 100 km/h, in the event you determine it’s essential overtake, you might be on the mistaken facet of the street for as much as two kilometres earlier than you truly get round it. That is akin to enjoying Russian roulette. If it’s actually bothering you, pull over for a cuppa, and provides it time to get a good distance in entrance.
#8. Make it straightforward for truckies to overhaul you
Regulate what’s happening behind you. If there are a variety of vehicles queuing up behind you, search for a secure alternative to drag over and permit the quicker visitors to go. When a truck does overtake you, don’t decelerate till they’re already beside you, then it’s secure to ease off the accelerator a little bit to permit them to go you extra rapidly.
In case you have a CB radio, you need to use it to let the overtaking truck driver know after they’re a secure sufficient distance in entrance to maneuver again into your lane.
The place to seek out extra info
To study extra about utilizing UHF to speak with vehicles and different RV drivers and see what a truck driver sees from their viewpoint within the cab, tune into Channel 10 on Saturday, September seventh, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. to catch the primary episode of Are You RV Secure?.
As well as, be certain that to obtain the RVSafe Handbook to make sure you’re doing the very best you’ll be able to to maintain your self and your loved ones secure.
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