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As an RV driver, you’ll be sharing the roads with all kinds of different autos, together with vans. Right here’s what RV drivers can do when sharing the highway with truckies to assist make sure 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 highway 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, vans have a lot bigger blind spots than common autos 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 Protected? 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 predominant blind spots for truck drivers. The primary two are apparent, these are:
The opposite two are much less apparent till you really 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 case you can’t see a truck’s mirrors, you’re almost certainly in a blind spot, and there’s 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’ll’t sluggish to a cease in the identical method as a normal automobile. In suburban areas, in case 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 almost certainly end up instantly in entrance of the truck. Yep, that’s proper, in its blind spot and within the truck’s security hole for slowing down.
If you happen to’re in a rural space and pull out onto the freeway after, say, filling up with gas, it’s attainable that the oncoming truck you pulled in entrance of will be unable to interrupt in time to help you come as much as the 100 km/hour it’s almost certainly travelling at. It’s higher to be affected person and anticipate the truck to move. In spite of everything, the truck driver is on a good schedule, and also you’re on vacation.
#3. Use your UHF to speak with truck drivers
Communication is essential to sharing the highway 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 tips on how to talk with each vans and RVs by way of UHF could be discovered within the RVSafe handbook, which you’ll be able to obtain at no cost by clicking on the button under:
Channel 40 is the highway security channel Australia-wide and is used primarily by truckies and heavy autos. So, by tuning into this channel, you should 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
If you happen to’re travelling in a convoy with different RVs, hold your distance from one another to permit vans and different autos room to overhaul you one by one. If you happen to’re all too shut collectively, will probably be unattainable for anybody to overhaul you safely, not to mention a truck.
#5. Respect the ‘vans solely’ relaxation areas
Truckies are required to cease and relaxation by regulation, so in case you’re in an RV, you’ll be able to’t use the ‘vans solely’ relaxation areas to camp. If you happen to’re in a shared relaxation cease, be thoughtful and go away house for the vans 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 durations and get to their supply level on time. So sure, they’ll understandably be fairly upset to search out an RV parked in the course of their stopping bay.
#6. Don’t overtake turning vans
All vans may have a “don’t overtake turning automobile” 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 autos (together with giant RVs) must encroach into the second lane when turning or maneuvering roundabouts. If you happen to’re in that lane once they accomplish that, nicely ….that’s a recipe for catastrophe.
#7. Don’t overtake a highway practice in your RV
Give it some thought, if that highway practice goes 90 km/h and you’re doing 100 km/h, in case you resolve it’s essential to overtake, you would be on the mistaken facet of the highway for as much as two kilometres earlier than you really get round it. That is akin to taking part in Russian roulette. If it’s actually bothering you, pull over for a cuppa, and provides it time to get a great distance in entrance.
#8. Make it straightforward for truckies to overhaul you
Regulate what’s happening behind you. If there are a selection of vans queuing up behind you, search for a protected alternative to drag over and permit the sooner visitors to move. When a truck does overtake you, don’t decelerate till they’re already beside you, then it’s protected to ease off the accelerator somewhat to permit them to move you extra rapidly.
In case you have a CB radio, you should use it to let the overtaking truck driver know once they’re a protected sufficient distance in entrance to maneuver again into your lane.
The place to search out extra info
To study extra about utilizing UHF to speak with vans 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 Protected?.
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 protected.
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