Important Article from RVTravel.com

Many years ago in my Motorcycling days I was out on my Sunday road trip enjoying the day trip. And then about half way into my road trip I picked up this car and followed me for miles. I slowed down, it slowed down, I picked up speed and so did it. this kind of stuff starts to make you a little unnerved. So I pulled the next town at a fast food joint. It pulled right in next to me. So I went over the knocked on it's window to find out why it was following me. The window rolled down, and now I was looking at a woman in her mid 40's. So starting telling my about her problems with not being able to trust people and she just thought she try start trusting people again. Whatever! I told her that what she was doing was kind of making me a little uneasy and I wished she stop doing it. She just looked at me and then desided it was probably best if she just went on her way with me. And never saw her again.

SusanDallas wrote:
This really worries me. I am new to RVing and have only used my travel trailer a few times. On my last trip, I noticed a white car that stayed right behind me for over 30 miles. I stay in the far right hand lane. I was driving between 55 - 60 mph and the speed limit was 70. The traffic was light and the car could have easily gone around me. I finally got aggravated and kept slowing down until the car went around me. The people in it looked normal enough but what possesses people to do this? Is this something that happens a lot when RVing?

SusanDallas, this is really not all that uncommon to be tailgated for some distance when traveling with your RV. I have found there are 2 types of travelers, those in a hurry and are speed demons, and those who are not so much in a hurry and are trying to be thrifty with fuel mileage.

One trick to improve fuel mileage is to follow closely a semi truck and catch the tail wind. The vortex of the wind causes a vacume at just the right spot and actually, wind resistance against your car can be almost zero, which is tremendous help in fuel effeciency. The down side is, if you tailgate too close, you can't see around the big rig in front of you. If he's speeding, and happens to fly by a police car, you are most likely the one who will be stopped. Had you not followed so close, you might have seen the police car ahead in time to slow a bit and the "next guy" might have been caught. That's the only down side.

Now, some folks will follow RV's also believing their tail wind will create this same vortex vacuum sweet spot and will sometime ride your tail for miles. It's happened to me. Slowing down is REALLY the best way to get them off your bumper. I've learned to keep an eye on them, but if they follow too long, too much, I'll hit an exit and then come right back on the interstate.

FYI, we don't travel interstates any more than absolutely necessary. We always stay with secondary roads and US highways. Much friendlier, slower speeds, and better roads all the way round. And you get to do a lot more site seeing.

It's good to keep an eye on someone following you like that, but if they took no threatening action, you're probably OK. I've had people pass me and give me the finger for driving too slow. I just wave!

SusanDallas wrote:
This really worries me. I am new to RVing and have only used my travel trailer a few times. On my last trip, I noticed a white car that stayed right behind me for over 30 miles. I stay in the far right hand lane. I was driving between 55 - 60 mph and the speed limit was 70. The traffic was light and the car could have easily gone around me. I finally got aggravated and kept slowing down until the car went around me. The people in it looked normal enough but what possesses people to do this? Is this something that happens a lot when RVing?

I've had this happen, someone overtakes you and then just settles in behind you for the long haul. They just aren't paying attention, or aren't in a hurry, or they have a NASCAR fantasy and are drafting. Might be on the phone, too. I just ignore 'em. As for worrying about stuff like this... well, I figure my chance of being the victim of thieves on the interstate is about the same as being struck by lightning.

Be vigilant, but not paranoid.

This really worries me. I am new to RVing and have only used my travel trailer a few times. On my last trip, I noticed a white car that stayed right behind me for over 30 miles. I stay in the far right hand lane. I was driving between 55 - 60 mph and the speed limit was 70. The traffic was light and the car could have easily gone around me. I finally got aggravated and kept slowing down until the car went around me. The people in it looked normal enough but what possesses people to do this? Is this something that happens a lot when RVing?

There was highway men robbing horse and carriages long before modern times. Nothing new, just stay vigilant but not to the point of paranoia.

Very well said, DutchmenSport. Yes, DownTheAvenue, it can happen anywhere. Key is to be alert, as the driver in the article was. I showed this to DH because he is that type - to notice something like that and he's always alert when we travel.

Anything can happen anywhere. Remember, almost every victim of any crime was at home or very close.

Like the article says, not much you can do to prevent this except be vigilant of your surroundings all the time. True if traveling or just going to the local grocery store.

People throwing rocks and bricks off bridges has been in the news an awful lot lately, causing a lot of discomfort about driving anywhere. Remember a few years ago when shootings were happening along various interstates in some of our major cities in the USA. Really scary stuff here.

But, you (and I) cannot let these things paralyze us and rob us of the joy of our chosen lifestyles. If something does happen, there's nothing we can do to prevent it. If we lived our lives in a word of "what if" ... we'd all be in our bed rooms with the covers over our heads waiting for the boogie-man to come knocking!

The article is a good reminder to be extra alert, to never let your guard down, and never trust anyone, especially if traveling.

I grew up as a kid in the middle 1950's and 1960's. If you are old enough to remember the "hippie" movement of not trusting anyone or anything, the "establishment", the government, your parents, or anything.... Well, I grew up with such skepticism where I did my best to over come this mind set. I eventually turned to some very strong religious principles of "helping your fellow mankind", "turning the other cheek", and "forgiveness". It worked OK for many years, until the day I let my guard down and forfeited my childhood "instincts" and then I got BURNED so bad, it was life crushing!

I have since reverted back to my childhood thinking, trust no one, but my religious re-training says give them a break, and then back to my childhood with a "no!" Trust nothing and trust no one! Keep your guard up ALL the time, and don't become lax or lulled into a false sense of "security."

When driving, going anywhere ... always be a bit paranoid! It's the only way to survive. But don't let such paranoia paralyze your life either.