Recreational vehicles (RVs) can introduce drivers to new experiences on the road. Lessons learned here can be applied to their daily life using their regular vehicle, even if RV use is fleeting.
After all, the RV lifestyle inspires millions of people. High-flying celebrities are buckling up in these vehicles and hitting the road, triggering onsets of wanderlust the world over. People love the RV experience but may sometimes underestimate the number of lessons that can be learned here as a road user.
Driving an RV can be incredibly informative. In many cases, it may even help you drive your normal vehicle more proficiently in future. Here’s a quick breakdown of how that could be possible.
Learning About the Vehicle ‘Infotainment’ System
Some RVs (but not all) come readily equipped with ‘infotainment’ systems installed already. These systems can also be installed in your standard automobile, but the RV often serves as an introduction to them.
More modern RVs are more likely to be equipped with infotainment systems. The tech has many useful features, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Cameras and backup cameras.
- Wi-Fi capabilities.
- Bluetooth connectivity.
- Satellite TV.
- GPS technology.
- Touchscreen equipment to access and manage all features.
If you like what you experience here, you can secure an infotainment system upgrade for your standard vehicle online. Select your vehicle’s make, model, and year with the filters online, and find great technology compatible with your car.
Building Your Awareness Levels
RVs are great to drive, but they also require a level of perception and awareness that’s greater than the typical road user might expect. They’re larger vehicles, presenting different types of navigational and manoeuvrable challenges.
You can be more keenly aware of blind spots when driving an RV. Moreover, you may also adapt to the size of your vehicle and whether it can get through certain spaces well. With these concerns, you may even pre-planning journeys and optimizing your routes so that you don’t find yourself in tight squeezes.
Unfortunately, many tragic accidents can occur due to blind spots on vehicles. While US senators want to change laws to install mandatory safety features, many of these incidents can be prevented if drivers do their due diligence. RVs might provide the wake-up call you could need as a driver or reaffirm the discipline behind what you already know.
After all, regular vehicles have blindspots too, and drivers of them still need to contend with uncomfortable spaces as well when parking. Patience is a key virtue behind the wheel, and RV drivers need it greatly. Regular road users, on the other hand, can lose their tempers quickly. Ultimately, you may well become a more attentive and calm driver for your experience with an RV.
Better Braking Practices
Some road users will stop their vehicles at the very last minute. It can be a very stupid thing to do.
This is mostly because when a vehicle’s brakes are used, the kinetic energy your vehicle creates when moving is converted into heat. After that, the energy is lost, and it’s replaced by consuming more fuel.
So, excessive and sudden braking is a problem. Further complications can occur like:
- Losing momentum unnecessarily and needing to accelerate in faster and more frequent spurts. A lot of gas can be wasted when stopping and starting in traffic, as the vehicle needs to use more fuel inching forward than it would maintaining a regular speed.
- Sharp braking increasing wear and tear on the brakes, making them less effective over time and delaying response times.
- Wasting energy resources when replacing faulty brakes with new ones.
Where do RVs fit in the picture? Well, RVs have a greater stopping distance compared to regular cars. That means driving one can help you more accurately anticipate stops and get into a habit of switching gears and slowing down when approaching one rather than sharply braking at the eleventh hour.
Fuel Efficiency
Effective braking can also lead to better fuel efficiency. Arguably, this is one of the main concerns on American drivers’ minds today!
Of course, gas prices have been climbing in 2023 in the US. Any solution or strategy that can minimize those costs is undoubtedly worth exploring. So, that’s another important way RVs can help you drive your normal vehicle, helping you adopt driving techniques that improve fuel conservation and reduce your spending on gas.
Greater Driving Versatility
A lot of people can feel very nervous about driving. It’s completely understandable.
Driving an RV is undoubtedly more involved than driving a regular vehicle. However, as you can see so far, there’s plenty of room for crossover. Once you’ve mastered driving an RV, you may find that you become a more confident road user, adopting a more versatile skillset with more confidence in what you’re doing.
You may also respect the road more. Many drivers can take liberties and underestimate the breadth of their responsibilities. Driving an RV can keep you grounded and ensure you never take driving for granted, improving the safety of yourself and others.
