Recreational vehicles are heavier, longer, more powerful, and potentially more dangerous than most cars. 

How Do You Drive Recreational Vehicles?

You need to know its special features and requirements before you drive any recreational vehicle. 

• Visibility

Because they are sitting higher, drivers of RV’s can see farther ahead than drivers of cars. Due to the fact that RV’s are wider than ordinary cars visibility to the rear can be a problem. To overcome this problem, adjust the large mirrors on the sides of the vehicles to be sure that you have maximum visibility in all directions. 

• Vehicle Size

Special problems that you must learn to deal with in order to manage risk while driving an RV which is wider, higher and heavier than cars are the following:

• Be alert for wind.

Because of their greater height and their higher center of gravity, recreational vehicles tend to sway in heavy winds. If you are having trouble controlling the vehicle when the wind is strong, slow down or stop. 

• Know the height of your vehicle.

You are driving a vehicle that is much higher than a car so be alert to anything above the roadway. Look for signs indicating height restrictions for tunnels or underpasses.  

• Know the weight of the fully loaded vehicle.

Many bridges are posted with signs that show the maximum allowable tonnage per vehicle.

Protecting Other Motorists

 Maintain a greater margin of space around the vehicle keeping in mind that you may be blocking the visibility of other drivers. Increase your following distance to give yourself more time to maneuver and stop. By staying alert and allowing extra time and space to accomplish driving maneuvers you decrease the risk to yourself and to others. 

• Protecting Yourself

Because of a recreational vehicle’s size and difficulty in maneuvering you will get tired more quickly than when you are driving a car. Manage risk to yourself and your passengers by planning to drive shorter distances, rest more often, and share driving duties. 

Check with your insurance to be sure that you are covered for driving a recreational vehicle. Install extra safety belts in the living quarters of the RV’s and insist that passengers who ride there use these extra safety belts.