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Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Yahoo Message Number: 111262
Dearest LD Friends,
 Thanks so much to all who responded to our electrical plea for help on the road to Disney World last week.  We were very grateful for your support.  Sorry I didn't respond earlier.
 I've got some excitement to share now that my nightmares have finally ceased after a week.
 This was likely my WORST RV driving experience.  But we lived.  Here's the drama:
 Not 20 minutes after Ned emailed you last Saturday, we were driving at dusk thru Pensacola when some idiots, apparently traveling together in 2 red cars, decided to stop together.  So in the middle of I-10, they slammed on brakes ahead of us, slowing down far faster than we could.
 I hit the brakes (panic stop) and we slid about 50 yards down I-10 Eastbound.  A pickup truck between us also slid off the road trying to stop - halted at an angle off the shoulder, he saw us coming (we slid diagonally to the right), and skittered out of our way.  The 2 red cars managed to keep pulling forward off the shoulder far enough as I'm sure they heard us squealing in the slide.
 We skidded up to the guardrail, miraculously stopping within an inch of it. I thought we'd hit it, but there was no damage and no bump, so I guess not.  It was *that* close.
 I felt like Amelia Earhart must have as the water came up to meet her plane (in the end), as that guardrail slid toward us, sick and sad. I couldn't believe the RV stopped shy of it.  Fortunately nobody hit us either on the highway.  And we didn't roll.
 During the slide, Ned and I had time to discuss which way to go (with no control in a slide), yell at the kids to tighten seatbelts which they must always wear, etc.  It was a looooong slide.  Completely terrifying.
 DD Jazy said she didn't panic until she saw great clouds of smoke coming from our tires, completely obstructing the back view.
 After we slid to a stop, we did not ask the fools why they were fools.  I suspect drugs or young drivers.  Since there was no contact and we were in shock and shaking, we just checked our tires (with acrid burned rubber smell), limped Ciao up to the next exit, and spent the night in a sympathetic Walmart.
 We left so much tire tread on I-10 that our new front tires were really flat in one place.  Truck places, not car tire places, know where to get tires rounded, and we finally found a place later.
 Since our front tires were just months old (or I suspect they would have blown out), Raney's Truck Service in Gainesville was able to get them about 85% round and still save some tread.  The $84 total was better than $450 for new tires.  He said he'd never seen flat spots that profound before.  They feel much better being round.
 My panic stop was not the best reaction.  ABS would have helped.  And should I have released the brake during the slide to let it catch, and then pump?  At least the friction of the front tires skidding did slow us.  I don't think the back brakes locked up since there was no tire damage.  I'd just had the back brakes adjusted before this trip.  All gentle advice welcome (I'm still recovering).
 Ned was able to brake with small pumps when some fool did the same thing the very next day!  I couldn't believe it!  I was screaming, as I didn't think we could slow down fast enough (my nightmare AGAIN), but thankfully the car got of the road before we hit it.
 Shockingly, FOUR times on this trip someone passed us, then cut in front of us, then slammed on brakes so they could pull over onto the shoulder.  I have never seen anything like it in all my RV driving, even with the wild drivers in Italy and Poland.  Completely crazy!
 Why would they pull in front of an RV before slamming on brakes?  And can't they pull over onto the shoulder first before slowing down?  And how often does someone even need to pull over onto the shoulder anyway?  Weird, weird, weird.
 Next time, I guess I'll just have to hit them if pumping my brakes doesn't slow us enough.  Rather than going into a slide, even if I get charged with the accident, at least we won't roll the rig and die or hit innocents.  Hopefully it won't hurt the perpetrator either, as they're going the same direction.
 I always try to be aware of what's around me, but we're usually the slow ones in the right lane being constantly passed.  So how do you protect yourself from people pulling in front of you and slamming on brakes?
 Maybe I need a sign on the back of Ciao: "If Pass me + Brake = Die".  Ooo, that's sinister for dear Ciao.
 As valuable and good-looking as vintage Ciao appears, I don't think they're trying to cause an accident for money.  I don't think it was a road rage thing either.  I think it is stupidity.
 Now we just don't drive at night since all our bad things happen after dusk.  My goal is to be parked for the night by the time our GPS flashes to night mode, and then rise with the sun to beat the traffic.
 So... Disney World was fun!  Fort Wilderness Campground is always a magical place.  We're home now, catching up on things, needing a vacation.  :)
 I think our electrical issue, which moved a wee bit down the stress list, is related to our levelers draining the cab battery.  I think they are acting fluky due to a seal leak that's causing low fluid, but I will get that all checked out with my mechanic.
 Fortunately, the electrical issue did not strand us.  As we drove highway speed, the battery monitor jumped back up to normal and the AMP light went out.  I'll follow up on all your good advice on the isolator, battery, etc and let you know.
 Thanks for letting me share.  I hope our experience helps you be on the lookout for people doing the same crazy stunt.
 And really, I'd appreciate any advice you have to offer.  I'd like to be ready for the next time someone does that maneuver.

Thank you all again for your help and be safe out there!

Tessa, back in Texas '92 MB- Ciao Baby!
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111263
OH!!!!   What a nightmare, not just once!  You've been through!  You are probably glad to be parked for a while?
 I'd be interested in the notes anyone passes along for dealing with idiots like this....

Cheers, Helen
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111264
Tessa, Ned, and kiddos,
 I am so glad you are ok after that ordeal!  We have never had that happen to us BUT it did definitely trigger memories of some news stories regarding what you could have experienced.
 Apparently there have been similar situations (not necessarily with RVs) where it's an intentional criminal act.
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111265
On Mar 24, 2010, at 12:55 PM, teresadhill wrote:

Quote
FOUR times on this trip someone passed us, then cut in front of us, then slammed on brakes so they could pull over onto the shoulder
I can explain this for you Tessa. They learned to drive in Alabama. That's how we do it there. Before leaving the road, you have to pass someone and cause them to stand on their brakes. If there is no one to pass, you can not exit.
 We also have laws that do not allow merging. If you want to get on the road and someone sees you, they will speed up to prevent you from merging.

Next time you want to go to DisneyWorld, go through Tennessee.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Don & Dorothy
Sold our LD in June of 2023

Our boring always non-PC travel blog
Traveling Dorothy
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111266
At 11:26 AM 3/24/2010, you wrote:

Quote
Apparently there have been similar situations (not necessarily with RVs) where it's an intentional criminal act. In those cases, they were either trying to get the innocent driver to hit them from behind (for insurance fraud) OR they were attempting to steal the vehicle.
I actually know someone this happened to, and it's no joke. If this ever happens to you and it seems intentional, purposeful, and utterly reckless (not just some poor inattentive slob pulling over without looking), get the license plate number[s] and report them to the local authorities. You could have ruined your vehicle, or someone else's, or worse.

And one reason I do think it may have been intentional is that most people know that a loaded RV takes a LOT longer to stop than a normal car, and that they are frequently driven by older people whose response times might not be very speedy. In other words, a perfect setup for a rear-ender accident where the so-called "victims" could not only claim damage to their vehicle, but all sorts of medical issues as well.
 I'm so glad you escaped unharmed, and I can certainly understand the nightmare quality of the experience.

Sonsie
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111267
Sonsie,
 I agree, especially since Tessa mentioned it was 2 cars that appeared to be traveling together
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111268
Quote
Sonsie, I agree, especially since Tessa mentioned it was 2 cars that appeared to be
traveling together
 
Quote
in this last incident. If they stopped together, blocking both lanes of the
interstate so she had
 
Quote
no way to drive around them, it absolutely sounds like it was intentional.
Michelle
Sounds like it might be a good idea to have a dash-cam or similar device to record incidents like that.  Maybe even have one in the rear of the coach as well to record traffic approaching from the rear (or lurking).

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111271
Tessa and family,
 Thank God you are all OK.  There are a lot of crazy people out there.

Dick Slater 05 Red RK Ridgecrest, CA
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111276
Tessa, glad you are OK. Now, I am going to go "professional" here for a minute (I used to be a traffic engineer)...
 From the description it sure sounds intentional, and I think you did a great job avoiding an impact.

That having been said, I want to speak to following distance.  Most drivers tailgate, albeit unknowingly.  Rather than trying to estimate car lengths, there is a better way.  For cars, it is the "2 Second Rule".  In brief, watch the car ahead of you.  When it passes under an overpass, begin counting seconds (one one thousand, two one thousand) from when the shadow hits the car.  Keep counting until your car reaches the shadow.  Minimum safe following distance for an average driver, dry pavement in good condition, good tires on the car is 2 seconds.  Try it next time you are driving.  Most drivers will be surprised at how much separation is needed.

The biggest advantage is that the 2 Second Rule adjusts spacing per speed (here comes the math).  At 25 mph it is 73 feet.  At 60 mph it is 176 feet.  That is NOT enough to stop your vehicle.  At 60 mph you need 137 feet to react and 171 feet to brake a car.  That is 310 feet (more or less).  It works because the vehicle ahead of you will require that much distance to come to a stop.  So - while traveling at 60, you see their brake lights come on.  They stop 171 feet later.
You stop in 310 feet from where YOU were when their brake lights come on, so to avoid them you must be at least 137 feet behind them at that time.  The 2 second rule gives you 176 feet of spacing, a 40 foot safety margin (for a car).
 Now, for us older folks with slower reaction times - I personally try for 3 to 4 seconds when driving my RV.  At that separation, you should be able to stop in reasonable comfort for all normal circumstances.
On wet pavement, steep downgrades, snow or ice, gravel or sandy road surfaces, increase the spacing even more.
 At these spacing numbers, you WILL have people passing and sliding in front of you.  It is a big space!  When they do so, just drop back a little and re-establish the spacing.

This does almost nothing in the circumstance of someone passing, pulling in right in front of you, then intentionally slamming on their brakes but in almost any other circumstance it provides a very comfortable cushion between you and the vehicle in front.
 Once again, nice job.  I am glad that it worked out with nothing more than tire flattening.

Ken F. in OR
'08 MB
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111281
Wheeeeewwwwwww! My knees would STILL be shaking. Glad you guys dodged the bullet(s), through superior driveswomanship.

Anne Johnson

Lovely La Verne, CA
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111282
Wow after reading that story...I really like the advice of a front end camera!  Get a clear shot, and a visible license and post on You tube.

Wonder if a little public pressure would clean up the roads?

Carolyn
'96 MB
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111286
Linda and I went crazy some years back, quit our (perfectly good) jobs, went to truck driving school and then drove 18-wheelers over-the-road through 47 of the lower 48 states for three years.  We have seen this phenomenon more times that I can count.  VERY scary, especially with a 53 foot trailer hitched to your cab loaded with 80,000 lbs of newsprint on ROLLS just chocked with what seem like very small chocks.  Every time we had to hit the brakes in a panic mode we always had nightmare visions of those huge rolls coming through the front end of the trailer and joining us in our Freightliner condo cab.  We came to feel that four-wheelers (normal cars) are driven by mental hospital escapees and that RV drivers were 'terrorists'.  lol.  You haven't lived until you've made your living driving an OTR Tractor/Trailer combo.  Yikes.  BTW, our '91 MB has an antilock brake system of some sort.  Last time I started it up the antilock brake light came on.  Just rear wheels maybe?  Will haul out the manual and check it out.  Glad you guys lived through the nightmare.  Linda and I can relate.
Cheers, Carol and Linda.
Re: Adventures on the Road (more than I need!) Long Post
Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111298
Thanks, Friends.  Appreciate the support and good ideas.

Glad it's over and hopefully I'm smarter now from the experiences.
:) Tessa in TX
Adventures on the Road
Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111273
Tessa

I'm glad you were lucky and skilful in avoiding disaster. Your story redoubles my resolve to:
1) not  drive over 55 on freeways, 50 on others,
2) take frequent rests and drive fewer hours a day to keep  myself attentive,
3) have my brakes professionally inspected not less than
 every 10k miles. Out west we have the Les Schaub tire store chain which checks brakes for free, but I'm sure there are places all over that do it as well.

And yes, I think your vehicle would have done a little better with ABS. I think in a non-ABS vehicle I would have pumped the brake pedal once or twice to try to unlock the wheels. Now, with ABS we are all trained, or should be, not to pump.

I personally have not had such a thing happen to me in my travels. I would think that doesn't happen much on the West Coast.

Tom Johnston, Red 2000 TK, Whidbey Island WA,  70 degrees and clear.
 
Adventures on the Road
Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 111275
Tessa About your electrical troubles, I wouldn't mess with the isolator. At least not yet. If your electrical systems seems. to be working now, or even now and then, it is quite unlikely you have a faulty isolator. Isolator problems are rare enough.
The only reason I wrote about it is because your husband mentioned it as a possibility and I wanted to be sure you disconnected it safely. But as I said before, it sounded like you were describing simitaneous house and truck electrical problems, and the only common component is the isolator.

Tom Johnston