Community Forums

Geechee · 12-19-2006, 10:19 AM

As we travel around the USA in our RV, we have on at least two occasions found ourselves in the position of not being able to avoid colliding with the remains of a BIG TRUCK tire. Each collision has resulted in scrapes and scratches to our motor home. However, I know of several RV'ers who have not been as lucky and have sustained major damages to their units resulting from collisions with the infamous GATORS. Please complete the survey below so that we may have an indication as too just how much of a problem this may actually be.

Geechee · 12-19-2006, 10:19 AM

As we travel around the USA in our RV, we have on at least two occasions found ourselves in the position of not being able to avoid colliding with the remains of a BIG TRUCK tire. Each collision has resulted in scrapes and scratches to our motor home. However, I know of several RV'ers who have not been as lucky and have sustained major damages to their units resulting from collisions with the infamous GATORS. Please complete the survey below so that we may have an indication as too just how much of a problem this may actually be.

rebelsbeach · 12-19-2006, 10:27 AM

Having recently returned from a trip to Arkansas and back to Virginia in the coach I had the chance to travel a good bit of highway.

We did come across several smaller gators,but also came across a HUGE piece of tire that seemed like the entire retread laying in the center of the hammer lane....Thanks to the CB radio we were well warned of it's existence.

I think they're just something else to deal with in our travels...

Can't even begin to tell you how many dead deer we saw either....

Moder2 · 12-19-2006, 03:33 PM

I agree with Bob, just another hazzard amoung many.

Yes, it is a shame they are there. Yes, the driver that threw it, should have picked it up. And, yes, they are a hazzard.

In my eyes, it is part of driving on a public highway system, and there are far worse hazzards out there. Such as, that soccer mom on a cellphone, or the guy next to you (I know it isn't you) that isn't trained to drive that 35,000lb rig with air brakes.

Good driving habbits greatly reduce these instances. Pay attention, Keep your eyes in a good scan pattern, look down the road as far as you can see, by all means don't tailgate (3 seconds, plus 1 for every 10 feet of vehicle over 20 ft, plus one more for speed over 45mph).

Take a defensive driving class, even if you think you know it all. If you have a school near you that has an advanced class with a skid pad, the experience is invaluable. Above all, knowing your limits, and being confident working within them is a must.

Other people, other debris, other hazzards, are your problem, deal with them. Don't be a victim of your own life!

Ok Off the soap box.

John

TXiceman · 12-19-2006, 04:06 PM

I will admit to using one to my advantage a couple of years back. I was runnig 70 mph (5 over the posted in the center lane), solo in my F350 dually on I-45 north of Houston. A JERK in a little BMW was trying to wipe hs nose on my rear bumper. he would not drop back or change lanes. A smaller "gator" was in my lane a ways ahead and I straddled it with ease. Last I saw of the JERK was his tires smoking as he hit the gator and trapped it on the front of his Beemer. Hope he learned his leason about following too close. And I do not regret doing it.

Ken

Glenn and Kathy · 12-21-2006, 07:33 AM

What irritates me about gators is that many times the people responsible for picking them up don't do it. Once when I used to commute on the I5 north of LA a large gator laid half on the #1 lane for 3 days. Seems like CALTRANS could have been quicker on that.

Glenn

Hitchhiker · 12-21-2006, 08:09 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
I will admit to using one to my advantage a couple of years back. I was running 70 mph (5 over the posted in the center lane), solo in my F350 dually on I-45 north of Houston. A JERK in a little BMW was trying to wipe his nose on my rear bumper. he would not drop back or change lanes. A smaller "gator" was in my lane a ways ahead and I straddled it with ease. Last I saw of the JERK was his tires smoking as he hit the gator and trapped it on the front of his Beemer. Hope he learned his lesson about following too close. And I do not regret doing it.

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good one, Ken. I'll remember that one next time someone 'welds' onto my rear bumper.

ChiefJohn · 12-21-2006, 08:45 AM

I also don't see this as a big problem and, like any other road hazard, do my best to take evasive action.

IMO, the condition of some of our major highways is more of a hazard than road trash. In the near future, some interstates will be privatized and converted to toll roads.

full-timer · 12-22-2006, 04:53 AM

This is just another reason to travel on the 2 lane roads and enjoy the scenery.

Joe

SeeTheUSA · 12-22-2006, 05:12 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
. . . Last I saw of the JERK was his tires smoking as he hit the gator and trapped it on the front of his Beemer. . .

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

As much as I dislike tailgaters, I've never wanted to risk their lives because of the offense.

Rich & Zara · 12-22-2006, 11:02 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by SeeTheUSA:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
. . . Last I saw of the JERK was his tires smoking as he hit the gator and trapped it on the front of his Beemer. . .

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

As much as I dislike tailgaters, I've never wanted to risk their lives because of the offense.
-----------------------------
Warren & Debbie, FMCA #376478
2006 Winnebago View 23H, Mercedes Diesel
2006 Scion xA, Falcon All-Terrain, BrakePro
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I totally agree with Warren & Debbie (SeeTheUSA). Should the tailgater's vehicle get out of control, there could be serious consequences to other innocent folks. Rethink please ??

Rich

chasfm11 · 12-23-2006, 03:47 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> I totally agree with Warren & Debbie (SeeTheUSA). Should the tailgater's vehicle get out of control, there could be serious consequences to other innocent folks. Rethink please ??
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rich, if I were in the same position, I'm not sure what I could differently than Ken did. Let's review the facts and options:
1.Ken didn't put the gator on the road.
2.Ken didn't invite the tailgator to act as he was doing.
3.Ken took evasive action when he saw the road hazard, protecting himself and his vehicle.

I think your comment comes from his lack of remorse at someone else getting themselves into trouble by driving illegally (driving too close is a traffic offense in most places). If I read between the lines of his post, I think that Ken was trying to say that he viewed the situation as an object lesson to the BMW driver and, since there was no harm to anyone else, perhaps it would prevent the BMW driver from similar actions in the future. I view that as a good thing.

I personally hate tailgaters. Our son had his neck broken and his car totaled by one of them, very nearly ending up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Eight times in the past time two months, I've been able shift to the inner lane, step on the brakes, allow a tailgater to pass me on the right and then pull into the right lane again behind them - without impeding any other traffic. That is just wrong, especially when I can do it in my MH with my toad attached. I've watched our local police "blotter" (list of calls) and seen that more than 40% of our local accidents are rear end collisions, all of them, I suspect, caused by people following to closely and more than half of them on the cell phone while doing it (another of my pet peeves). My only remorse about those situations is for the others that the tailgaters impact. Sooner, rather than later, people need to accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

IMHO, a driver who is paying attention and driving responsibly will notice my action to avoid a road gator and will be able to take similar evasive action for him or her self. One of the things that I watch intently for while driving is changes in the pattern or path of drivers in front of me. My noticing those changes has saved me from road hazards on many occasions. My only regret is that many others don't seem to take the time for similar observations.