Motorhome Crash 5/11/2015

After further reviewing it, the right front drops pretty good. He could have over corrected for it and lost control too.

Can you imagine the pucker factor as that happened. Doesn't matter how it happened, he's forever tagged as having rolled his motor home. I wonder if the wife is agreeable with getting a new rig or are they shopping for a condo?

I suspect the right front tire blew. I am only guessing but I suspect he was going 70 or faster. Just because the speed limit is 70 doesn't mean you are actually driving a vehicle combination that should safely be going 70.

On commercial vehicles (trucks/buses) they can not have re-treads or worn tires on the steer axles. Any violations on the steer tires will put them "out of service" until it is corrected. The video demonstrates the reason for these strict rules. A unit that heavy, going at that speed, is very hard to control when a steer axle tire blows.

I agree with what has been stated.....they were very lucky along with everyone else sharing that part of the interstate with them that day!

I watched the video...as a new class A driver, good to watch.
Although it wasn't specific in the video, I assume after ones pushes the accelerator, one can slowy coast or brake to a stop? They didn't really say what to do after pushing the accelerator. Is it just a matter of getting control of the situation at that instant, and than everything after that is pretty obvious what to do?

Looks like the left front to me. And it doesn't look like he braked until he was well into the median. Makes me scared to drive mine now.

I was kind of thinking how fortunate that the oncoming traffic was that he kept it in the center median as well as he did.

hoopers wrote:
I watched the video...as a new class A driver, good to watch.
Although it wasn't specific in the video, I assume after ones pushes the accelerator, one can slowy coast or brake to a stop? They didn't really say what to do after pushing the accelerator. Is it just a matter of getting control of the situation at that instant, and than everything after that is pretty obvious what to do?

IMO their emphasis is to make the driver learn to hit the accelerator as an immediate safe reaction in order to wake you up to the critical actions of holding steering wheel pressure AGAINST the adverse yaw, AND to NOT hit the brake. IMO the rest kinda takes care of itself (if you're a good driver).

But, let's review the reason tires blow out in the first place. Some of it is a mystery, but proper inflation and installing a pressure/temperature sensor/monitor are the first steps you might consider. I assume you have Michelins which are still in good condition.....:B

dreeder wrote:
I was kind of thinking how fortunate that the oncoming traffic was that he kept it in the center median as well as he did.

Apparently there was a cable barrier, according to the article. Tough to see in the vid.

My Opinion
18 wheelers have no business going 75mph
It's a matter of control, that much weight, too much sway and instability
Same thing for motorhomes with a toad, and trailers and fifth wheels
I get passed all the time, by RVs in too big a hurry to get there, to do it safely

mlh wrote:
There were cables that were recently installed that kept him from crossing into the other lanes. He did wind up sliding out blocking both lanes but you can't see it in the video.

Cables are noted to not stop cars and pickups from crossing over to the lanes going the other direction, and would have almost no effect on a vehicle this size and weight.

State of Washington recently removed the ineffective cables north of Everett on I-5 and installed Jersey barriers.

Chris