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DiskDoctr wrote:


First, try to put things into perspective. You did NOT crash, die, or witness some horrific event. There is not trama in such a thing.

Most people are affected by a life-threatening event, even if it didn't play out fully into disaster.

For example, if someone puts a gun in your face and robs you but doesn't otherwise hurt you, you'll be affected in some way. Maybe you'll get a gun, maybe you'll become more aware of your surroundings, maybe you'll never go out again.

Just because you didn't get physically injured doesn't mean you won't suffer life-changing, emotional trauma from a life-threatening event.

Yall know that the OP has left the building, don’t cha…

scroller95969 wrote:
RV.NET is the place to come for Post Traumatic Swerving Disorder.

Very creative! lol

scroller95969 wrote:
RV.NET is the place to come for Post Traumatic Swerving Disorder.

Is there not a therapist here that can help her out?
Like honestly reading some of the advice here if I was in her position I would lock myself in a bedroom and lock the door!
Gawd he hit the freaking curb cause his eyes were on some woman's butt !
Time to build a bridge and get over it!

Hate to be a jerk here, but give your husband a break. Just judging by your reaction to the situation this sounds like a 1st time event and not the norm for his driving. Almost everyone has had a oh crud moment happen to them when driving due to a moment of complacency.

RV.NET is the place to come for Post Traumatic Swerving Disorder.

Wow. Some folks are treating this like a tramatized who survived an airline crash and is now afraid to fly :R

First, try to put things into perspective. You did NOT crash, die, or witness some horrific event. There is not trama in such a thing.

Now, if you are *uneasy* with your DH's driving of the class A or he is unsure of himself, then surely take advantage of the advice to allow him to take an RV driving course, get practice in a large lot, drive with an experienced class A driver for a bit, etc.

Remember, there are two distinct issues here. The first is DH having or getting the required skills for class A. The second is your worrying about it.

Only you can let go of fear. Nobody can give it to you or take it from you. Some people suffer from irrational fears and have to make special accomodations for that. Not saying that is you, rather pointing out that even with taking appropriate steps to reduce the chances of future incidents, if you are either unwilling or unable to let go of the fear and move past it, then you may have to make other arrangements.

There is no shame in deciding you don't enjoy something. If you both decide the class A isn't right for you, then it is very simple to change to something you will both enjoy.

After all, a class A is not something you 'accomplish' it is something you 'choose' based on your needs. It is not a status symbol, nor is changing out of one a sign of failure. Choosing an RV based upon your needs and adjusting when your needs change is simply a sign of a wise person!

So I'd say to you make a wise choice. Either choose to let it go (and take any remediation steps you both find appropriate) or choose something else that you can both enjoy. One is as good as the other! :D

As a driving instructor, one of the things I teach people is "off road recovery". We intentionally have the student drop 2 wheels off the pavement and then drive back onto the pavement. Then we do all 4 wheels into the grass/gravel beside the driving track, then drive back on the pavement, we do these exercises at 55 mph and 65 mph.

All of this is done with an instructor in the passenger seat saying the instructions out loud as the student completes the exercise.

When done correctly, which happens when the student follows the instructions, someone riding in the back seat could not tell we have left the road and returned (other than the different sound of driving on grass/gravel as compared to pavement).

The students, who are often white knuckled and visibly nervous when they get in the car, come out of the car with the confidence and skills to successfully recover from running off the road.

Now, all that was said to say this to the OP...if you could ride in your RV through this exercise it would ease your fears and help you to be more at ease when you ride in your RV.

Finding a qualified person and a suitable place to conduct this exercise would be your biggest challenge.

Hints for successful off road recovery:

DO NOT attempt to steer back onto the road immediatly.
Take your foot off the gas.
Do not brake.
Let the car stabilize, keep your eyes looking well ahead so you can see the best place to return to the pavement (try to avoid coming back on at a place with a steep dropoff).
Slowly steer back onto the road.
Make no quick or drastic steering inputs.

Of course circumstances/conditions vary widely out on the open road so act accordingly.

OK, does this all mean the title should've been "afraid to ride in the coach"?
If so, then it's the passenger that we're discussing, right?
It's nice to ID the OP, plus it's nice to ID the vehicle make and model.
Now, I can look it up and figure out the wheelbase and the rear overhang (for starters).

I believe what happened could have even happened with a smaller vehicle. One slips too far over to the right and swerves to get back straight on the road. The larger vehicle, of course, causes much more of sway than a smaller vehicle. The driver may get a little scared but usually not as much as the passenger. I think if you would have been sitting in the front, you may not have felt the swerve the way you did and it may not have scared you as badly. It will take some getting used to, I'm sure, but don't give up on driving it if that was your original intention. If it were me, I would take a few trips close to home riding in the front seat to get comfortable riding in it first. A traumatic experience seems to make one fearful that it is not safe when in reality, it was probably a freak thing. Once you are comfortable as a passenger you may also be more comfortable as a driver. The way I interpreted your original post is that this situation scared you to the point of you not wanting to drive it. Maybe I interpreted wrong but if not, only practice will help. You must be comfortable enough to be a passenger first (I think) to be comfortable enough to drive it. You have to trust the rigs stability and handle ability. Sounds like DH did a good job of keeping it on the road. Good luck to you and I hope your fears soon subside so you can enjoy some happy camping.