The RV lifestyle inspires millions of people. High-flying celebrities are buckling up in these vehicles and hitting the road triggering onsets of wanderlust the world over. People love the RV experience but sometimes underestimate the number of lessons that can be learned here as a road user.
Driving an RV can be incredibly informative. In many cases, it may even help you drive your normal vehicle more proficiently. Here’s a quick breakdown of how that could be possible.
Learning about the Vehicle Infotainment System
Some RVs come equipped with infotainment systems already installed. These systems can also be installed in your standard automobile but the RV often serves as an introduction to them.
The tech has many useful features, including, but not limited to the following:
- Backup cameras
- Wi-Fi capabilities
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Satellite TV
- GPS technology
- Touchscreen equipment to access and manage all features
Building your awareness levels
RVs are great to drive but they also require a level of perception and awareness that’s greater than the typical road user might expect. They’re larger vehicles, presenting different types of navigational and maneuverable challenges.
You can be more keenly aware of blind spots when driving an RV. Moreover, you may also adapt to the size of your vehicle and whether it can get through certain spaces well. With these concerns, you may pre-plan journeys optimizing your routes so that you don’t find yourself in tight squeezes.
Unfortunately, many tragic accidents can occur due to blind spots on vehicles. Many of these incidents can be prevented if drivers do their due diligence. RVs might provide the wake-up call you could need as a driver or reaffirm the discipline behind what you already know.
After all, regular vehicles have blindspots too and drivers of them still need to contend with uncomfortable spaces as well when parking. Patience is a key virtue behind the wheel and RV drivers need it greatly. Regular road users, on the other hand, can lose their tempers quickly. Ultimately, you may well become a more attentive and calm driver for your experience with an RV.
Better braking practices
Some road users stop their vehicles at the very last minute. This is not a smart thing to do. When a vehicle’s brakes are used, the kinetic energy your vehicle creates when moving is converted into heat. After that, the energy is lost and it’s replaced by consuming more fuel.
So, excessive and sudden braking is a problem. Further complications can occur:
- Losing momentum unnecessarily and needing to accelerate in faster and more frequent spurts. Fuel is wasted when stopping and starting in traffic as the vehicle needs to use more fuel inching forward than it would when maintaining a regular speed.
- Sharp braking increases wear and tear on the brakes making them less effective over time as well as delaying response times.
Where do RVs fit in this picture? RVs have a greater stopping distance compared to regular cars. That means driving one can help you anticipate stops and form the habit of switching gears and slowing down when approaching one rather than sharply braking at the eleventh hour.
Fuel efficiency
Effective braking can also lead to better fuel efficiency. This is one of the main concerns on most drivers’ minds today. Any solution or strategy that can minimize fuel costs is undoubtedly worth exploring. So, that’s another important way RVs can help you drive your normal vehicle, helping you adopt driving techniques that improve fuel conservation and reduce your spending on gas.
Greater Driving Versatility
A lot of people can feel very nervous about driving. It’s completely understandable.
Driving an RV is undoubtedly more involved than driving a regular vehicle. However, as you can see so far, there’s plenty of room for crossover. Once you’ve mastered driving an RV, you may find that you become a more confident road user, adopting a more versatile skillset with more confidence in what you’re doing.
You may also respect the road more. Many drivers can take liberties and underestimate the breadth of their responsibilities. Driving an RV can keep you grounded and ensure you never take driving for granted improving the safety of yourself and others.
Worth Pondering…
Yesterday was history, today is reality, and tomorrow is opportunity.
—David Pearce