Major accident with my RV

[les.warden]

Originally Posted by WyCamper

More and more I think that people who are merging consider their turn signal as a "right-of-way indicator" rather than a signal of intention to move over when it's clear to do so. I've been yelled at by people who had their signal on and I failed to yield. Hasn't happened in the MH yet, but I haven't driven in traffic much with it yet either.

I agree with you. I’m even guilty of this. Over time, aggressive driven has taken hold, so when you turn on your turning signal to indicate you need to move over to a different lane, the driver who would be the one to let you over, more often than not, will speed up and close any possible gap. I find this 80% of the time. My guilty part.....my turning indicator has become only a courtesy blink...because I AM coming over.

[cinergi]

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

From your description I was expecting to see major damage to the fiberglass bumper. What a surprise to see how minor it is. Looks like your rig basically did a "pit maneuver" on her car with the real impact coming against your compartment and Jeep. Glad no one was hurt or another innocent vehicle was involved, besides yours.

Interesting about the avoidance system not alerting you. Maybe it only works when you make the move to change lanes but, in this case, you were not inputting the steering and were hit while maintaining a straight course.

I was absolutely stunned at the lack of damage up front. I was expecting to see a complete disaster. It's probably because our speeds were pretty matched.

The avoidance system is for traffic directly in front. I'm actually glad that the act of t-boning her car (which blocked the radar) did NOT set it off and cause my vehicle to do something outside of my control. It may be because I was already on the brake pedal at that time.

[Wundertaker]

Originally Posted by les.warden

I agree with you. I’m even guilty of this. Over time, aggressive driven has taken hold, so when you turn on your turning signal to indicate you need to move over to a different lane, the driver who would be the one to let you over, more often than not, will speed up and close any possible gap. I find this 80% of the time. My guilty part.....my turning indicator has become only a courtesy blink...because I AM coming over.

In Michigan we sometimes use the "MICHIGAN MERGE"!!! Use No Turn Signal to indicate a lane change! This gives you the DROP on them as your lane change is already completed instead of giving the jerks advance notice so they can speed up and cut you off from your desired lane change. In some situations it's safer than using a turn signal because the gap in vehicles is larger.

[MSHappyCampers]

WOW! It's a miracle that she wasn't badly hurt or killed!

[raineman]

Glad all are ok. There is a surprisingly large number of idiots out there that are too stupid to learn how to merge properly. If IQ tests were part of getting a drivers license, there would be a huge population that would not qualify. Sorry about your accident

[DenverTransplant]

Originally Posted by Superburban

Back about 20 years ago, a public school drivers ed instructor in Pa, Taught the students to go to the end (as in where the lane gets too small to fit in, before you are in the highway lane), and stop, then turn around, and look for a space to accelerate into.

The nearest major accident event I ever had was years ago in Tulsa Oklahoma. I was driving cross county had stopped for gas. Getting back on the freeway I was behind this lady who accelerated to about 50 MPH on the ramp and then STOPPED at the bottom to do to her "look around" thing (she must have taken that class). I barely got stopped behind her and could have very easily been visiting her back seat.

In Colorado nobody seems to know how to merge. When they are doing roadwork in Colorado and close down a lane, they actually have signs up telling people where and how to merge. Most don't bother reading the signs.

[les.warden]

Originally Posted by Wundertaker

In Michigan we sometimes use the "MICHIGAN MERGE"!!! Use No Turn Signal to indicate a lane change! This gives you the DROP on them as your lane change is already completed instead of giving the jerks advance notice so they can speed up and cut you off from your desired lane change. In some situations it's safer than using a turn signal because the gap in vehicles is larger.

Yep! That one’s in my bag of Merge Tricks also!
[emoji106]

[1ciderdog]

I always slow down when I see the merging traffic when driving the RV but driving the car I speed up. 30,000 pound RV why take a chance, I'll slow down and give them the space. (Unfortunately they also vote)

[Sunny1]

I’ve been pondering getting a dash cam, but just haven’t gotten around to it. It’s for situations exactly like what happened here that a dash cam could become a huge asset (The truth teller) especially if the driver of the car were to try to give a different version of what caused the accident and blame the RV.

[grindstone01]

Dash cams can be of some benefit. I believe the police are experienced and can usually figure out what happened during the accident. This is their job that they deal with everyday.

[les.warden]

Originally Posted by Sunny1

I’ve been pondering getting a dash cam, but just haven’t gotten around to it. It’s for situations exactly like what happened here that a dash cam could become a huge asset (The truth teller) especially if the driver of the car were to try to give a different version of what caused the accident and blame the RV.

Yep. Got one. Always plugged in and recording when I’m rolling. Also, air-horn on and ready.

IDEA[emoji848] ...Next up, big giant bumper cushions surrounding coach. [emoji848]🤪

[Ret.LEO]

Originally Posted by mdpuff

I'm glad everyone is ok. This type of accident is one of my biggest fears so when I am traveling the freeways and there is more than 2 lanes I take the center lane leaving the left lane for the speed demons and the right lane for merging and departing the freeway. If it's only a 2 lane I will stay in the left lane while going through a city or town leaving the right lane open for merging and departing that way I won't be in anybody's way other than maybe the speed demons that are in the left lane and well, they can go around.

You nailed it well right there. Great advice. This is a lesson I learned after driving semi's for 20 years and then did a life change and went through a Sheriff's Academy and became Law Enforcement for 17 years.

Using the center lane when there is on gives you multiple avenues of escape when presented with a emergency maneuver. Anytime I approach exits and merging traffic I go into a total defense mode and try to prethink a escape route if needed.

[nothermark]

That is unless you are like the MH I followed once. Smug moron got in the middle lane on I-95 and set his cruise to around 62. He was backing up traffic for a couple of miles with folks passing him on both sides. Big smile on his and his wifes faces.

[AKOne]

Merging is becoming a big problem. What I dread seeing, an upcoming merge lane with a string of cars riding each other's bumpers all expecting to enter the freeway at once and a full left lane.