I-15 Motorhome Front Tire Blowout Crash in Mesquite

[richclover]

“Motor home blew a front tire and sent him into oncoming traffic and he hit the side of the semi trailer.”

From a Facebook post. I wasn’t involved, just saw major traffic disruption on I-15, Mesquite, today.

Safe travels and take care of your tires.

 

[CamperAL]

I wonder if he was traveling faster than the tires are designed for?
I have seen motorhomes traveling faster than posted speed limits at times. I didn't read about the accident but hope no one died.

 

[John From Detroit]

“Motor home blew a front tire and sent him into oncoming traffic and he hit the side of the semi trailer.”

From a Facebook post. I wasn’t involved, just saw major traffic disruption on I-15, Mesquite, today.

Safe travels and take care of your tires.

The RV driving course tells you what to do when a tire blows.


What I'd do now.. Hit the gas as acceleration tends to make you go straight.

What I did before the course (Cars only) coast to a stop

What far too many do.. Hit the brakes (2nd worst option worst often follows shortly after)
Roll over and die.

I learned to NOT hit the brakes before I had brakes to hit believe it or not.
Taught by Walter Tompkins K6ATX
You see in his book Tommy Walters (Also K6ATX he used real calls with permission) Explains why he did not hit the brakes when he blew a tire.

 

[whiteva]

My interstate speed of 37 mph usually gives me plenty of time to move from the left lane to the right shoulder and stop. I will try to remember to shift from the all ways present left turn signal to the right side if I think about it.

That guy in an old MH.

 

[Kirk]

Has to be Mesquite, Nevada since it is on I15. We live in Mesquite, TX.

 

[richclover]

Mesquite NV Seen & Heard | Traffic backed up all the way to the Casablanca | Facebook

Sounds like a fatality. Sad.

Right Kirk, Mesquite, Nevada.

 

[UTTransplant]

I learned to NOT hit the brakes before I had brakes to hit believe it or not.
Taught by Walter Tompkins K6ATX
You see in his book Tommy Walters (Also K6ATX he used real calls with permission) Explains why he did not hit the brakes when he blew a tire.

It is easy to say that drivers shouldn’t hit the brakes when something bad happens, but I think it is instinctive. It takes training and practice not to do so, and most of us will not get that. I do mental exercises about not braking, and I just hope that will be enough if the time comes. But it definitely isn’t as good as real practice like professional race drivers get in simulators.

 

[Kirk]

Nothing really new on the morning updated news.

 

[Larry N.]

I do mental exercises about not braking, and I just hope that will be enough if the time comes.

When I was young (and sometimes even through today), I did a lot of mental exercised on "what ifs" such as, "What if he pulls out NOW?" or "What if he jams on his brakes?" "What if the right front tire blew NOW?" and many more. That's a feature of my thinking most any time I'm driving, something I picked up as a teen from certain magazines that had articles from experienced drivers, the Highway Patrol, etc. suggesting that, mags such as Mechanix Illustrated for example (Tom Cahill was great at that).

When I was teaching people to fly, one of the recommendations I made to students was something that I did when I was a new student (and later, too), that is, after you get home from the flight, sit down in your easy chair, close your eyes, mentally get your hands and feet on the controls again, and relive the flight. In my experience (and in reports from others) this helps build muscle memory. It's a very valid way to practice things, especially things new to you.

 

[John From Detroit]

It is easy to say that drivers shouldn’t hit the brakes when something bad happens, but I think it is instinctive. It takes training and practice not to do so, and most of us will not get that. I do mental exercises about not braking, and I just hope that will be enough if the time comes. But it definitely isn’t as good as real practice like professional race drivers get in simulators.

I fully agree the instinctive thing is to HIT THE BRAKES and pray... The ONLY training had what that paragraph in the Mystery book K6ATX wrote. But my brain tends to act a bit...er.. different.
I think, very quickly, before I react, of course after multiple flats (Some at 0.00 MPH) The instant is to not hit the brakes.

Of course while I was typing this my glasses broke. Now the instinctive thing is to request a ride to the optical shop but now is not a good time and I have marine grade heat shrink and a heat gun so Temple .... Spliced.

 

[RayIN]

NIRVC invented a solution for sudden front tire failures.

 

[Chef Duane]

Has to be Mesquite, Nevada since it is on I15. We live in Mesquite, TX.

I'm in Plano and read that also. I thought "I-15 ain't anywhere near Mesquite!"