I-70 Camper Crash

We past along that stretch of 70 recently too. Lots of drivers in a big hurry. Lots in a hurry & also on the phone. Try to stay around 1800RPM/67MPH myself. Not too slow & collecting a line behind us but not passing many either. Don't know where all the slow RV drivers are. Sure do have many more blow past us than we go by. Many have way too much tail for the dog wagging away as they race to who knows where.

captnjack wrote:
Pretty hard NOT to take evasive action isn't it? Normal reaction is to avoid collision and it must be hard to control that. Not to mention that high speed collisions also have negative consequences. Likely just as bad or worse than avoidance.

Saying it is ALWAYS a bad idea can't possibly be supported.

Yes, CavemanCharlie is correct, I should have said don't take sudden, evasive action, like jerking the wheel to swerve out of the way.

Overcoming instinct is hard, but knowledge is power. On the first trip out of state with our new Hybrid TT, I hit a pot hole just as a tractor trailer passed me. The HTT started to sway bad. It was pushing me across lanes of traffic. At one point the wheels of the trailer chirped a few times. My instinct was to hit the brakes to slow down, I was doing about 60 - 65 mph when the sway began. I did not hit the brakes, because I remembered the one useful bit of info the Dealership's salesman told me: if the camper starts to sway don't hit the brakes - give it gas. That's what I did, I stomped on the gas pedal until the camper finally straightened out and got back under control. Ironically, it was the salesman that told me we didn't need a weight distribution hitch.

-Michael

captnjack wrote:

mgirardo wrote:

News Article wrote:
Investigators believe the driver took evasive action while either making a lane change or a vehicle came into the lane the SUV was traveling in, state troopers said.

Our children began learning to drive a few years ago. I have practically forced it down their throats that taking evasive action to avoid colliding with something is always a bad idea at high speeds. I hope, if they are ever in a situation where evasive action is the instinct, they will remember what I have told them over and over again and hold their course.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

-Michael

Pretty hard NOT to take evasive action isn't it? Normal reaction is to avoid collision and it must be hard to control that. Not to mention that high speed collisions also have negative consequences. Likely just as bad or worse than avoidance.

Saying it is ALWAYS a bad idea can't possibly be supported.

Maybe what Michael was trying to say is that taking evasive action "Suddenly" is a bad idea.

If you can move over or change lanes in a controlled manner that is good but, you don't what to grab the wheel and jerk it .

And, avoiding another vehicle in one thing. But, suddenly jerking the wheel to avoid something like a squirrel is dumb. I understand the squirrels right to live but, take you foot off of the gas, hold the wheel straight with both hands, and pray that the critter moves.

mgirardo wrote:

News Article wrote:
Investigators believe the driver took evasive action while either making a lane change or a vehicle came into the lane the SUV was traveling in, state troopers said.

Our children began learning to drive a few years ago. I have practically forced it down their throats that taking evasive action to avoid colliding with something is always a bad idea at high speeds. I hope, if they are ever in a situation where evasive action is the instinct, they will remember what I have told them over and over again and hold their course.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

-Michael

Pretty hard NOT to take evasive action isn't it? Normal reaction is to avoid collision and it must be hard to control that. Not to mention that high speed collisions also have negative consequences. Likely just as bad or worse than avoidance.

Saying it is ALWAYS a bad idea can't possibly be supported.

News Article wrote:
Investigators believe the driver took evasive action while either making a lane change or a vehicle came into the lane the SUV was traveling in, state troopers said.

Our children began learning to drive a few years ago. I have practically forced it down their throats that taking evasive action to avoid colliding with something is always a bad idea at high speeds. I hope, if they are ever in a situation where evasive action is the instinct, they will remember what I have told them over and over again and hold their course.

Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

-Michael

Drove past the mess a couple of hours ago.ugly. No wind or weather involved. Traffic was light.

allen8106 wrote:

gbopp wrote:
Another reminder why it's not a good idea to haul passengers in a TT.

There's nothing in the report saying there were people in the TT. It specifically states they we were in the SUV???

I believe the reference was to the fact the TT is as flat as a pancake and separated from the frame. Not even a good place for pets!!

allen8106 wrote:

gbopp wrote:
Another reminder why it's not a good idea to haul passengers in a TT.

There's nothing in the report saying there were people in the TT. It specifically states they we were in the SUV???

That was my first reaction, too - then I realized they were pointing out the flattened trailer would have been a death trap, had anyone actually been inside it.

I attended a defensive driving class a few years ago and instructor advised against driving in the lane next to barrier if possible.

gbopp wrote:
Another reminder why it's not a good idea to haul passengers in a TT.

There's nothing in the report saying there were people in the TT. It specifically states they we were in the SUV???