Leaving seat while driving

[caseffie]

Newbie here to RVing. In making plans to hit the road with our motorhome, much discusion has been generated about moving about the cabin while driving.

One group talks about the wife getting up to prepare meals while on the road, use the bathroom, or her sleeping in the bed while husband is driving.

Another party was horrified at the thought, and insisted that they all remain seated and buckled up while driving, just like in a car.

What do you experienced travelers do?

And despite the intimidating size, are you as protected in a MH as you are in a semi? Everyone knows that generally in a dispute, the semi wins. Do you win in a MH too?

[Bumpyroad]

valhalla360 wrote:

The idea that you will call out a safe word before slaming on the brakes or swerving is just silly.

It is silly for you to think I would wait before slamming on the brakes, assuming that "slamming" on the brakes is warranted. I would be braking proportional to the need considering the situation at that time. I of course would be yelling at the same time. If the passenger is slow to react, the end result might be better than not saying anything.
bumpy

[frankdamp]

There was a story some time ago, probably not for real, about a pilot with an overseas airline who was training in the US. He rented a motor-home for a long weekend.

Out of town a ways, he turned on the cruise control and went to the toilet. When the road curved left, the rig went straight on, fortunately out into the desert. He took the damaged (but still driveable) rig back to the rental company complaining loudly about the faulty "autopilot", quite convinced the accident wasn't his fault.

[Two_Jayhawks]

Class A's and semi's have nothing in common a semi will fare much better in an accident. We stay belted and seated 99% of the time. She will absolutely get up to use the toilet or get a soft drink and I'll ofter tell her "not now" based on conditions. Yes we know there are risks involved and we accept them.

[valhalla360]

Bumpyroad wrote:
One thing that should be done if somebody is going to be walking around the MH. you should have a "SAFE WORD", no, not that kind of a safe word, but something like screaming "FLOOR" if the passenger should immediately take a dive to the floor .
bumpy

So do you wait a few seconds while you yell out the safe word before hitting the brakes?

Perception reaction time is typically assumed to be 1 sec but that is for a simple action of hitting the brakes. Forming a coherent thought and stating a safe word would likely add at least a couple seconds to that.

The idea that you will call out a safe word before slaming on the brakes or swerving is just silly.

[ckwjl]

We changed from a TT to a Class C Jamboree in 1987 and used it until 2004. I believe we envisioned moving about the motor home as one would on a cruise ship, to some degree. I recall us moving about more in the early days--we even took showers. We never had a mishap, but as time went on, we tended to stay seated more and only got up for bathroom breaks and to get drinks and snacks, as most responding to this post appear to do. The front seats had only lap belts, which we used. The dinette also had lap belts, but I don’t believe we ever pulled them out from beneath the seat. I’ve never been able to sleep in a moving vehicle, other than a short nap. The cabover bed was a comfortable place to lie down; the rear bed was too bouncy while on the road.

[falconbrother]

DW uses the head and gets snacks while driving. On long trips she spends a lot of time on the sofa.

[slickest1]

Hey Don your second and third sentence should have something in between them. Just kidding!
Years back before we bought our coach we were looking at a privately owned DP and the lady was telling us that her and the kids would have showers while driving down the road. Not for me or anyone in my coach!!
My wife will get up for potty breaks or to get something from the fridge, but only after I tell her it is safe and we are on a good straight piece of road with nobody close by.

[DSDP_Don]

The reason we have a motor home vs a trailer is so we can get up and move around. My wife goes back to pee three times compared to my once. She also refills my drink. If I see an issue with traffic, I tell her to brace herself and wait a moment.

In a major crash, in a motor home, I doubt someone in the back will fair any differently than someone up front wearing a seatbelt.

[JohnnyT]

As threads get longer there tends to be a departure from the original thread intent. This thread is relative to movement within a class A while in motion.

The absolutely safest way is to have all occupants in their seats buckled up while the coach is in motion. The reality for those of us who travel in class A motorhomes is there will often be some movement while underway. Whether to go to the bathroom, tend to a pet,or fix a snack. I think most of us exercise prudence and do not permit movement in traffic, congested areas, road construction, or bad weather. Or will pull into a rest area, off the side of the road or an exit.

When our children were young, they were belted while underway no exception.

[Dachristianman]

If one has a family, the driver could, in theory, pull out of a campground at 0430 and have a day's worth of driving accomplished about the time that his wife and younger children are waking up. That way, the family can enjoy a full day at a campground and the driver can catch a nap in the middle of the day.

This is all "in theory" of course.

Life is full of risk.

[Oldme]

Legally it is no different than in a car.
Buckle up.

In a accident or even a quick stop or
emergency lane change can be disaster for
anyone standing or trying to walk.

[caseffie]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies, everyone!

Yeah, I should have thought out the heading a little better before I posted it. PASSENGER leaving seat while driving is what I meant, but I appreciate the sense of humour some of you had about it! 🙂

Having heard from two such different viewpoints, I just wanted to hear what the majority of the experienced RVers had to say about it.

Again, thank you so much.

[hone_eagle]

RedJeep wrote:
I am the process of purchasing a 2008 class A gas. I was a bit surprised to find that the driver and passenger seats only had lap belts and not shoulder belts.

Your Truck is "passenger rated" so is the bluebird a page or two back so is any coach conversion.
The rest are (99%) matchwood in any serious collision,I wouldn't bother with a seat belt in a typical motorhome,its not going to matter.

[Bumpyroad]

One thing that should be done if somebody is going to be walking around the MH. you should have a "SAFE WORD", no, not that kind of a safe word, but something like screaming "FLOOR" if the passenger should immediately take a dive to the floor .
bumpy