Spun motor home on I5

slickest1 wrote:
That tire was 2 weeks old. I always ran good tires at proper pressures and checked them several times a day.

That says a lot. This is a good thread. It will keep me on my toes.

"It does not matter how prepared you think you are it will still surprise you."
*
In order to be helpful, the above statement needs to be quantified. If a blown front tire surprises you and startles you to the point that it "freezes" your brain such that you do nothing,....it means that you need some training and some way of staying focused on your responsibility as a driver. There's things you can do to train yourself, even as you drive down the highway. Don't lollygag, talk to yourself constantly (keep asking yourself what you would do when a front tire blows out). As a retired high-time commercial pilot, and ex-racecar driver, I have no problem staying ready to instantly properly respond to any emergency. My biggest enemy is complacency.

Cloud Dancer wrote:
"It does not matter how prepared you think you are it will still surprise you."
*
In order to be helpful, the above statement needs to be quantified. If a blown front tire surprises you and startles you to the point that it "freezes" your brain such that you do nothing,....it means that you need some training and some way of staying focused on your responsibility as a driver. There's things you can do to train yourself, even as you drive down the highway. Don't lollygag, talk to yourself constantly (keep asking yourself what you would do when a front tire blows out). As a retired high-time commercial pilot, and ex-racecar driver, I have no problem staying ready to instantly properly respond to any emergency. My biggest enemy is complacency.

^^^ exactly! Preparedness is your best friend during an emergency. Ask any good pilot.

I tossed a drive line once at over 110 MPH. Was I surprised? Hell yes I was after the back of the car lifted up 2 feet in the air! I wanted to do bad things but because I tried to train for a surprise I did the right thing and lived to tell about it.

The more you train the less likely you will do bad things when the time comes.

Stay safe out there and stay off of the brakes! :)

Cloud Dancer wrote:
"It does not matter how prepared you think you are it will still surprise you."
*
In order to be helpful, the above statement needs to be quantified. If a blown front tire surprises you and startles you to the point that it "freezes" your brain such that you do nothing,....it means that you need some training and some way of staying focused on your responsibility as a driver. There's things you can do to train yourself, even as you drive down the highway. Don't lollygag, talk to yourself constantly (keep asking yourself what you would do when a front tire blows out). As a retired high-time commercial pilot, and ex-racecar driver, I have no problem staying ready to instantly properly respond to any emergency. My biggest enemy is complacency.

The above is exactly right.

Here is a way to think about being prepared:

Aim High (Ie look FAR down the road ahead of you)

Kepp Your Eyes and Head Moving (check mirrors often dont "STARE" down
the road)

Get the Big Picture (know whats going on ALL around you dont get
focused on one thing or hypnotized)

Leave yourself an out (Always leave yourself an escape route if
something should happen)

Always be Prepared to Yield (Never push a situation..give way even if
they are wrong)


Make sure others see You (Get eye contact with other drivers try to
understand their intentions..get them to
notice you)

Drive in a way that you control the outcome (self explanatory)

These concepts are taught in professional driving courses for Tractor trailers, buses and other vehicles and while the terminology may differ the ideas are constant. They can be done and those that practice them stay out of trouble.

ontheroadwithjake wrote:
Always be Prepared to Yield (Never push a situation..give way even if they are wrong)

I agree. No need for an aggressive attitude. I recall quickly recapping my situation once:

1) steep hill
2) late at night
3) fatigue
4) heavily loaded car
5) coming up to the end of the passing lane

The passengers in my car were cheering me on to pass the slower traffic in the #2 lane, and I quickly ran through #1 - #5 above and backed off.

You'd think I'd lost my masculinity given the comments in the car.