presented by: Gary Massey
Summer camping season may be over, but there’s still time to enjoy a trip in the family RV. Many drivers take recreational vehicle (RV) trips in the fall, whether it’s to follow their favorite football team to an away game or simply to get away and enjoy the autumn colors.
In order to help prevent accidents, keep the following RV safety tips in mind when traveling this fall:
Watch your blind spots – RVs have large blind spots directly behind them and to the sides. Your mirrors can help you identify other vehicles or obstacles in your blind spots, but they cannot help you see the entire area around your RV. Large trucks and other vehicles on the road also have large blind spots, so never travel in a truck or other vehicle’s blind spot.
Secure your loads – The weight in an RV is distributed differently than it is in a passenger car. If heavy objects are not carried close to the floor of the RV or are not secured, they may shift during travel, which can cause a rollover or other accident. Secure heavy loads as close to the bottom of the vehicle as possible, and drive cautiously to avoid incidents in which you may have to brake or swerve suddenly.
Plan ahead for stops – Like a tractor-trailer or bus, an RV is a large, heavy vehicle that needs a larger stopping distance than a passenger vehicle. Pay attention to the road ahead so that you can brake gradually when coming up to an intersection or other obstacle. Leave space between the front of the RV and any vehicles in front of you in order to avoid rear-end crashes.
RVs can be a great source of family fun, but the safety risks involved in driving one are different than those for ordinary cars. If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle crash, the experienced Chattanooga car accident attorneys at Massey & Associates, P.C. can help. For a free and confidential consultation, call us today at (423) 396-0720.
Gary Massey, Jr., is a well-known courtroom advocate practicing law in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Gary is a native of Tennessee who began practicing law in 1998. He graduated from Cumberland School of Law where he was ranked in the top 3% of his class and was an editor of the Cumberland Law Review.
