fulltimedaniel wrote:
Most often it is the drivers natural response to want to hit the brakes. And this is what causes those spins. The uneven braking and traction on one side coupled with the movement (if any ) of a tread separation or blowout...leads with the wrong response to a spin.
Stay Off the brakes. give ;yourself a chance to slow down a bit then apply very light pressure to the brakes.
In some cases it might be that you actually have to SPEED up a little to offset the movement cause by the blowout, once straight come off the accelerator and slow down then begin braking lightly.
Much of this is simply driver error or inexperience with large vehicles. (and sometimes small ones)
Well, the scenario would certainly work but the problem is: not all situations are the same.
The Grapevine is a treacherous stretch north of LA. especially in bad weather.
This is one portion of I-5 that at a very slight chance of snow this freeway gets closed. Wind gusts could also knock over RVs and High profile vehicles. Motorists are often stranded overnight sometimes, especially if they don't carry snow chains to navigate this highway when there is snow.
Even if snow is not imminent the dust could be blinding--the sand could sandblast your paint.
There are stretches with steep grades also that during the hot summer months, you need to pay attention to your engine cooling system.
The hot engine fiasco is something we can handle. . . however it is much different when there is snowstorm. Unlike easterners, midwesterners or Canadians we are not used to slick roads whether it is caused by rain or snow. So the first reaction is jam on the brakes.
When there is zero visibility, it doesn't matter whether you are driving sports car or RV. When you come to a situation where you can't see cars in front the only recourse (while overcame with panic) is apply the brakes. I think that you are faced with an important decision to make: run down a few cars with your 20000 lb vehicle or half a dozen mini cars in front or keep your vehicle from going over the ridge to a ravine 300 ft below.
This gravevine portion is split as it approaches or leaving the summit. Three lanes going south and three lanes going north which makes it look like it is narrower than a regular six or eight lane highway.
Of course we can use some education but a lot of CA drivers with their turbo charged toys think they can drive at hi speed at any road condition.
I think that this a matter of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.... or may be the RV driver was from LA? LOL
