Josee,
Here is a list of driving tips that I compiled after taking the RV Driving School 1-day driving course.
JerryF
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RV DRIVING TIPS
Stay in the center of your lane. One idea is to put two 1/4 inch wide
strips of white tape about six inches apart on the defroster vent at the
bottom of the windshield so you can quickly glance down to see them
without moving your vision very far from the road ahead. Place the tape
so your MH is in the center of the lane when the painted center line in
the road is between the two strips of white tape. You may not use them
all the time but when you need a quick check of your position in the lane
as in heavy traffic or especially in a narrow construction zone the tape
marks will tell you if you're centered in your lane faster than checking
your mirrors. Another idea is to imagine your right foot on the dark
streak (oil deposits) in the middle of most lanes where the tires don't
run.
On the highway look 15-20 seconds ahead (15 seconds is a quarter of a
mile at 60 MPH). Stay 4 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you. The
California Class C drivers handbook says to add 1 second more if you are
driving over 40 MPH so maybe 5 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you
is better. To determine this watch the vehicle in front of you pass a
post or sign and count the number of seconds until you reach the same
post or sign.
In city traffic look ahead one block.
If a vehicle is stopped alongside the road move over a lane to give them
room.
Cover the brake if a traffic light is "stale." Stale means that you do
NOT know how long it has been green.
Cover the brake if you feel something is wrong. Covering is placing your
foot on top of the brake pedal.
Plan ahead, notice roadside signs, changing traffic patterns, traffic
slowing, lane merges or splits, turning lanes and so forth.
When there are 2 left turn lanes, use the right-most lane for your left
turn.
When there are 2 right turn lanes, use the left-most lane for your right
turn,
Left Turn when there are two lanes on your side of the highways center
lane: Drive until the front wheels are even with the center line, turn
it full & fast, and go slow. If there is only one lane on the highway
you are turning onto, drive until the front wheels are even with the curb
(or an approximate curb if none exists) and than turn it full and fast.
Right Turn when there are two lanes on your side of the highways center
lane: Drive until the front wheels are even with the curb or left side
of a parked car, turn it full & fast, go slow. If there is only one lane
on the highway you are turning onto, drive until the front wheels are
even with the curb (or an approximate curb if none exists) and than turn
it full and fast.
Mirrors: Scan your mirrors (both flat and convex). Look for shadows.
For perspective, adjust mirror so about 1-inch of your coach shows in the
mirror.
As you pass another vehicle, when you can see the passed vehicle's tires
on the road surface in your flat mirror you can safely move back into
your lane even if you're towing a car. Also, you can leave your back up
camera on to help judging when to pull back into your lane.
As you approach freeway ramps look (glance) 3 times. (1) Check the exit
lane as you approach. (2) Look at the top of the overpass. (3) Check
the incoming merge lane as soon as you can for entering vehicles.
Backing & Turning: Drive close to the edge of the road or curb. Then
back until the rear wheel is where you want to start the turn, turn it
full & fast, and go slow. If you're not making it, stop, turn the wheel
in the other direction and pull forward as in a Y turn. Then turn the
wheel back the other way and continue backing. You may want to tip your
flat mirror or mirrors down so you can see better.
Backing straight: Choose a high easy-to-see object in your flat mirror
(left mirror is best for this) and keep it in the same location in the
mirror as you back up. This will keep you going strait.
Campground maneuvering: Watch for tail swing, overhead branches, and
look down low for short tree stumps, large rocks and electrical/water
hookups. You may want to tip your flat mirror down so you can see
better.
Streaks of rust coming from the lug nuts may be a sign of loose lug nuts.