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01-15-2021, 11:09 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 760
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Your RV Close-Call Traffic Accident Stories – There are
I was in St. Louis on the outerbelt I270 headed to I55 to go South towards Memphis. It was during afternoon rush hour an I was almost to I55. I was driving a 1999 Winnebago Vectra Grand Tour 40’ long towing a car. There were 6 lanes and I was in the right-most lane. Traffic was going about 65 and very tightly packed (typical for STL rush hour). I was going slower and kept a reasonable open stopping distance ahead of me.
I heard that gut-wrenching loud startling sound of a major collision. To my left about 5 cars up in the middle of the pack .... the corner of my vision saw a cube shaped car like a Kia Soul rise up in the air above the other cars … like this was happening in slow motion … while in the air the Kia Soul rotated 180 degrees … then in dropped back down out of sight in to the pack of cars (going 65). Then I heard repeated car accident collision sounds. I should be OK as I left adequate stopping distance but every car on the highway suddenly locked up their brakes.
Just ahead and beside me was a small car like a Fiat. He swerved over immediately ahead of me .... into by braking space and he solidly locked up his brakes. I had zero room to stop. However I was in the right most lane so to avoid hitting the little Fiat I Swerved my 40’ Vectra Grand Tour … pulling a toad … onto the paved shoulder. I knew I was going to hit the Fiat with the side of the RV it was unavoidable but better than hitting him from the rear. But by some miracle ...... I most of passed the Fiat by an inch. Somehow I drove along the shoulder and bypassed the entire conflagration without so much as a scratch. The whole thing seemed to me like it was happening in slow motion.
My adrenaline was peaked. I was shocked and shaken. I can’t believe to this day that I wasn’t somehow involved with the collisions.
Lot of good it did me to leave stopping space ahead of me. That Fiat didn’t need to Swerved in to my lane, much less right on my bumper and he had no reason whatsoever to lock up his brakes. He’s lucky he doesn’t have a Winnebago logo tattooed into his back side.
I feel better for haven't vented ....
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01-15-2021, 11:11 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 760
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I was driving in St. Louis on a inter belt called I170. I was driving a 40’ Winnebago Vectra Grand Tour. It had very sparse traffic. I was in the right hand slow land doing about 55. A small car was flying up behind me, he pulled over to the middle lane and began to pass me. Suddenly he realized that he is missing his exit which we are just passing. But being the rocket scientist that he was he swerved over just a head of my bumper and locked up his brakes so he could slow down enough to “safely” swerved into the exit lane.
I had a brand new set of Michelin XRV’s that I had to lock up and smoke to avoid crunching him. I indubitable put flat spots on the tires from locking them up. It was literally a miracle that I didn’t run over his car and create road kill. I can’t imagine the physics works out that we could have stopped without and accident.
I guess he freaked out and did something stupid … probably wished he hadn’t … but my god you can’t make those kind of mistakes.
.... I feel better for having vented ....
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01-15-2021, 12:31 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 4,283
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I had a Caddy SUV pass me on the shoulder in a construction zone. Then got ahead of me about 50 yards, then locked up his brakes. He didn't like me going the speed limit on his highway. Of course I stopped as fast as I could nearly locking up my brakes avoiding the ___hole by just inches. Luckily my cars aux brake was installed and my 35k lbs Discovery has antilock brakes. I still vision this nightmare at nights.
__________________
Full Timers.
2015 Fleetwood Discovery 40E on a Freightliner XCS chassis with a Cummins ISL9 pulling 1 and/or 2 motorcycles, '07 Honda Accord OR a 17' Runabout Boat.
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01-15-2021, 02:07 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Pinellas Park, FL
Posts: 1,117
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This post should be titled. "Why I Use a Dash Cam". Stories like this are why I bought and wired into the ignition switch!!! If the engine is running, so is the dash cam!
__________________
Thom and Diane Boles
2010 Winnebago Vista 32K **2013 Mini Cooper S Roadster **
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01-15-2021, 02:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 448
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ThomB
This post should be titled. "Why I Use a Dash Cam". Stories like this are why I bought and wired into the ignition switch!!! If the engine is running, so is the dash cam!
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I wired my dash cam to an always on connection - that way it will keep running until I shut it off - whether the engine is on or not - sometimes the aftermath is more important than the event.
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01-15-2021, 03:25 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,228
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I've had a few people pass me in the emergency lane because they were not paying attention as they tried to merge, got caught with no place to go because I was already there and couldn't move over. Been flipped off more than once because of this.
I have a dash cam that is always on when the ignition is on. I should have a big sign on the front that says "Smile for the camera".
__________________
Rick and Larrie Dee
1997 40' Newmar London Aire DP CTA 8.3 (Mechanical) 325 Spartan MM
Bringing her back to her glory.
'08 Jeep GC Overland.
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01-15-2021, 05:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 881
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Your RV Close-Call Traffic Accident Stories – There are
Quote:
Originally Posted by RKins
I've had a few people pass me in the emergency lane because they were not paying attention as they tried to merge, got caught with no place to go because I was already there and couldn't move over. Been flipped off more than once because of this.
I have a dash cam that is always on when the ignition is on. I should have a big sign on the front that says "Smile for the camera".
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I had the same thing happen to me except the jackhole got into some rock on the side of the road and pitched it right into my windshield. I did everything I could to give the guy room, but he was too busy drinking a coke.
Good thing we have glass coverage.
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John, Laurie & the 3 Schnauzers
2019 Newmar Bay Star 3609
Ford V10 - 24K Chassis
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01-15-2021, 07:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Canyon Lake, Texas
Posts: 3,020
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Your RV Close-Call Traffic Accident Stories – There are
Yep you’d need a dash cam to prove the accident wasn’t your fault when those cars suddenly swerved into your lane and stomped the brakes.
I have 2 dash cams. One stays in my work truck, the other moves from car to rv as needed.
Closest call we’ve had in our first year of DP ownership, was a far too typical merging scenario , when someone tried to merge into us while we’re pulling a toad about 60 mph at night in the pouring rain and heavy traffic on I40 in the Hot Springs area. I couldn’t move over and neither braking or accelerating was going to help. I laid on the air horn and I guess the other driver managed to stay on the shoulder long enough to miss our toad.
The DW LOVES being woken up by our air horn don’t ya know! I only use it when something bad is about to happen lol.
__________________
2002 American Tradition 40'
Cummins 8.3, Banks 431hp, 1260 tq
Canyon Lake, TX
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01-15-2021, 07:58 PM
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#9
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,942
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I have had several close calls and because I was paying attention, managed to avoid an accident. We run a dash camera all of the time for the past few years. This one has an impact sensor that is supposed to stop recording if there is an impact. I do not want to try it out.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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01-15-2021, 09:29 PM
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#10
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,248
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As inexpensive as dash cams are everyone should be using one. They won't prevent an accident, but they will show who is at fault.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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01-16-2021, 11:29 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
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In Alaska had a moose jump in front of the coach, missed him by about 4 feet.
Heading north on 95 on our way to Q, a fool in a class C pulled left in front of me and left 3/4ths of his rig in my lane. Laid on the horn and brakes and if the south bound lane hadn't been watching and moved over so I could use their lane, we would have hit the C and most likely both of us would have been killed
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Don
2002 Country Coach Intrigue
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01-16-2021, 11:48 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,792
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What are you guys using for dash camers? I have a GoPro Hero 5Black I use for trail riding on the RZR that I turn it on when I want to record a hill climb or such, then turn it off. How are you storing all the footage of hrs upon hrs of driving?
__________________
2017 Fleetwood Bounder 36Y
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01-16-2021, 12:06 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Allen, TX
Posts: 147
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Driving through Abiline on I20, pulling our 40ft Cedar Creek 5th wheel with or 2014 F350. There was a truck in front of me about 75ft in front. An SUV merged on from the on ramp and pulled right in front of the truck in front of me. The guy in front of me slammed on his brakes and we slammed on ours. We rear ended the guy in front of us, spun him around and the tailend of his truck clipped a truck that was trying to get past. The truck we hit, eventually hit the overpass railing. We totaled his truck and the airbag sent him to the hospital (thankfully, no serious injuries). The guy he clipped received only body damage to his truck. Our truck was totaled. Bed was pushed up against the back window, damage to the frontend. The Superglide hitch was ruined also, but it held and kept the trailer from coming through our back window. No damage at all to our 5th wheel. Even though 3 witnesses came forward and said the guy that merged on started the problem and the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes, I was cited for following at an unsafe distance. No dashcam but as soon as I got my new truck, I installed one. Wish I'd had it for the accident.
__________________
George & Nancy - Allen, TX
2018 Cedar Creek 36CK2
2015 F350 6.7L PSD, CC, LB, DRW, 3.73 diff, 14,000lbs GVWR, 5190 lbs CC.
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01-16-2021, 01:58 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Lake Camanche, CA
Posts: 404
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Driving my Cl a towing my 24' Pilothouse boat on a two lane road when a car stopped at an intersection road decided to pull out in front of me. I had to swerved to the oncoming lane to avoid hitting her. Fortunately there were no oncoming traffic. Then she decided to lollygag down the road at 45mph on a 65mph zone. UNBELIEVABLE.
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