Yesterday I was on my way home from a camping trip about 3:00PM towing my 4300-lb (weighed) travel trailer. I was on a rural road that was winding and hilly; the speed limit was 55MPH. I was pretty much traveling at the speed limit. On the uphill climbs I was really powering into them to keep my speed from dropping too much.I came to the crest of a hill, and around a blind curve ahead there was a stopped school bus with lights flashing and stop sign deployed. It was in my lane, heading the same direction as me, and there was a car stopped behind it.I had to slam on the brakes to their maximum in order to be able to stop.For a split second I was unsure I'd have enough room to come to a complete stop, and I did a quick visual check to see whether to use the opposite lane or the shoulder for an emergency. On what side were the children?Fortunately, I was able to stop safely.I was very glad for a number of things: (1) all my gear worked as it was supposed to; (2) I am within my weight limits; (3) I was paying full attention to the road.If any one of those three elements had not been true, there could have been a bad ending.Be careful out there, especially during school transportation times.-Speak

SpeakEasy wrote:Yesterday I was on my way home from a camping trip about 3:00PM towing my 4300-lb (weighed) travel trailer. I was on a rural road that was winding and hilly; the speed limit was 55MPH. I was pretty much traveling at the speed limit. On the uphill climbs I was really powering into them to keep my speed from dropping too much.I came to the crest of a hill, and around a blind curve ahead there was a stopped school bus with lights flashing and stop sign deployed. It was in my lane, heading the same direction as me, and there was a car stopped behind it.I had to slam on the brakes to their maximum in order to be able to stop.For a split second I was unsure I'd have enough room to come to a complete stop, and I did a quick visual check to see whether to use the opposite lane or the shoulder for an emergency. On what side were the children?Fortunately, I was able to stop safely.I was very glad for a number of things: (1) all my gear worked as it was supposed to; (2) I am within my weight limits; (3) I was paying full attention to the road.If any one of those three elements had not been true, there could have been a bad ending.Be careful out there, especially during school transportation times.-SpeakI'm really glad it worked out for you, and you had nothing worse than a momentary adrenaline rush and maybe some rearranged cupboard contents come out of things.It's really, really easy to drive too fast on curvy and hilly roads--not so much because of one's ability to go up or down hills or around corners with command of the vehicle, but rather because of limited sight lines and being able to stop for unanticipated things blocking one's way. I know there have been a good few times when I've considered after driving somewhere that I would have not been able to avoid a crash if I came upon a downed tree or something around a blind corner or over a blind hill. (Even more frequently, it's likely that the driving is the same but the consideration afterwards doesn't happen.)Thanks for the reminder to pay attention and be prepared.

Nice driving, it could have been a very bad situation if you had been not on top of everything.

You should quickly contact the school district or the highway people and urge them to install a "school bus stop ahead" warning sign or whatever is appropriate at that location. Soon it will be getting darker and another driver may not be as lucky as you were.

slow down when you can't see far enough ahead to stop without making an abrupt maneuver. YOU are responsible, not the bus stopped in the lane.. could have been broke down, etc..

As a part time School bus driver it always worries me when a stop is over the crest of a hill, or around a blind curve. I have all ways request a sign be installed when needed and now most of our rural stops around here now do. that being said the driver of the other vehicles have to be paying attention, very easy to miss a sign. But what is worst is the guy in such a hurry he passes time you put the sign in. what if a child was walking on the side on the road, or needed to return to the bus, could become a nightmare real quick.

Another ABRUPT Braking Situation | Good Sam Community

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Sep 28, 2016
I commend you for paying attention. Thanks for the reminder that we all need to do that.

A few weeks ago I met a man towing this TT with the Antennae still up. I waved to him desperately to try and get his attention. But, he was too bust looking down to see me.

I think he was texting on his cell phone.
Harvey51
Explorer
Sep 29, 2016
Yes, thanks for the heads up.
Also, on narrow rural roads people mostly drive down the middle but the wise slow down and move to the side on curves and hills.
tinner12002
Explorer
Sep 29, 2016
jdavidsmi wrote:
As a part time School bus driver it always worries me when a stop is over the crest of a hill, or around a blind curve. I have all ways request a sign be installed when needed and now most of our rural stops around here now do. that being said the driver of the other vehicles have to be paying attention, very easy to miss a sign. But what is worst is the guy in such a hurry he passes time you put the sign in. what if a child was walking on the side on the road, or needed to return to the bus, could become a nightmare real quick.

It kinda crazy, you can get a sign put up by just requesting it and I've been trying to get a stop sign to get people slowed down in our neighborhood where kids cross to get on school bus but can't get it done.
tinner12002
Explorer
Sep 29, 2016
Watch for slow moving farm equipment also as we will be getting into harvest season.
down_home
Explorer II
Sep 29, 2016
Day afore Yesterday, we had a semi pass a car behind us and intended to pass us on three lane interstate.
He saw he had to turn into an inspection station and locked up his brakes coming from the left lane in front of us to the right lane and into the lane to the check station.
We stood on the brakes and just missed going under the semi trailer and being rolled over by its rear tires.
This is the reason when I drive I keep up a good interval using brakes and accelerator and making defensive moves long before they get right up to us.
She was driving and like most women waits til the last moment and insist on a certain speed regardless, of traffic around her, most of the time.
I might not have been able to do any better this instance though.
Hard to believe that Semi Driver did what he did. He was not making sound decisions.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2016
tinner12002 wrote:
Watch for slow moving farm equipment also as we will be getting into harvest season.

Oh HELL YES. I will be driving some of that slow moving equipment.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Sep 30, 2016
down home wrote:
Day afore Yesterday, we had a semi pass a car behind us and intended to pass us on three lane interstate.
He saw he had to turn into an inspection station and locked up his brakes coming from the left lane in front of us to the right lane and into the lane to the check station.
We stood on the brakes and just missed going under the semi trailer and being rolled over by its rear tires.
This is the reason when I drive I keep up a good interval using brakes and accelerator and making defensive moves long before they get right up to us.
She was driving and like most women waits til the last moment and insist on a certain speed regardless, of traffic around her, most of the time.
I might not have been able to do any better this instance though.
Hard to believe that Semi Driver did what he did. He was not making sound decisions.

He was probably over tired. The big companies are pushing these drivers harder, and harder, all the time.
Biker1mike
Explorer
Sep 30, 2016
Yikes. Send a note to the school district you were in. I live on a double s curve with steep grades. Speed limit is 55 but the big rigs roll even faster that that.
Our school district and bus company came out with tape measures to set the new bus stops. It can take almost 600 feet to stop a big rig at 65 mph. Our school wants as close as possible to 1000 feet of visibility for a bus stop.
Our bus stop is now across the road on a side street. A pain in the neck to walk to in the rain or snow but much better than risking 40 kids in a bus on a blind corner.

Glad you could stop.

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