Bee Staff
Even as the summer vacation season winds down for those heeding the school calendars, there are still plenty of recreationists on the road.
The California Highway Patrol has a few driving and safety reminders for drivers of recreational vehicles.
• Best days for travel are not weekends. Unless it's absolutely necessary, avoid traveling in your RV on Saturday and Sunday. These are the two most heavily congested traffic days around recreational areas. Driving weekdays is much more enjoyable and relaxing.
• Caravans are problems. Most RV caravans occur on two lane roads, creating a nightmare for drivers of other vehicles. Other drivers can't see ahead, they have difficulty in passing, and as tempers flare they take chances or make driving mistakes, thus creating the perfect setting for a traffic collision which could involve you. You can contribute to safer roadways in California by discouraging caravans or establishing large spaces between the caravaning vehicles.
• Equipment failures happen. The most important rule to remember in the event of a mechanical problem is to pull completely off the roadway to make repairs. If you're on a freeway, attempt to take an off-ramp to a surface street before stopping. If you have no choice, always stop on the right shoulder, never in the center divider.
• Passengers transported within a camper must have access to an exit door which may be opened from the inside and outside.
• Fire extinguishers of an approved type must be carried in all RVs equipped with cooking or heating stoves.
For other tips, go to the California Highway Patrol site for recreational vehicles:
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