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When is the coast clear?
Is there a rule of thumb or a trick to know when it’s safe to pull back into the right lane after passing a vehicle? A truck driver once told me that when you can see the passed car’s driver side headlight in your right mirror it is safe to pull over. Would that apply to a 45′ coach and a toad?
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13 Replies
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Jimmie, the way we each adjust our mirrors influences the visual clue as to when it is safe to pull in. Unless someone responding has their mirrors set exactly like yours their answer might be invalid.
I like to give the car or truck I am passing a lot of room, so for me to determine positively when I have allowed sufficient space I first used shadows to reveal my true distance. If you are driving so the shadow is on the driver’s side because the sun is perpendicular to the travel path and coming from the passenger side you can see your position relative to the vehicle you are passing. When your respective shadows show the space you want between vehicles, then get a reference point in your mirror to use for future passing.
On mine I am allowing ample space if the front of the passed vehicle rises in my large mirror to the point where it just disappears. My mirrors are set so the big mirror shows me where my rear tires are relative to a curb, driveway or whatever. so I cannot see anything that is more than about 75 feet behind me. I use the smaller convex mirror for the long distance view.
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Jimmy and Laurie,
I find a good rule of thumb is to count three marker lines (center line) between you and the other vehicle before pulling over.
The rear camera is kinda like a convex mirror (objects are closer than they appear). Just before I turn on my right blinker, I make sure that there are at least 3 lines between the back bumper of the tow vehicle and the front of the vehicle I’m passing.
This seems to work for me.
Many times, I will get a ‘flash’ from the vehicle at this time to pull into the right lane.
Safe travels,
Mark
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I also use the rear view mirror in a similar manner and it works well for me.
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my best view is my rear camera
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I use the camera to pull in about 3″ from the front bumper of the moron that just passed me, cut in so close he wiped the bugs from my bumper, and then slowed down to text a message.
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if you feel something when you pull in or hear a horn, then you’re pulling in way too close.
If you see the vehicle you just passed go onto the shoulder or down into the ditch, then you’ve left almost enough room but probably not enough. Extend the pass out a little bit more.
I’ve found turning signal before I move over really helps.
Where I struggle sometimes is when I pass a car and as I almost get past the car the car speeds up to look at the coach. Sometimes coming up far enough to look in the door to see if Willie Nelson or Reba McIntyre is sitting in the passenger seat … I doubt if Willie or Reba tow a Chevy HHR with Wisconsin plates while on tour.
Another one to watch is when I see a vehicle merging onto the highway from the right and realize I need to move over so the vehicle can merge and then after looking to the left to confirm I can move over I give up the lane. Then after getting past the merging vehicle I signal to move back to the right into my original lane, look in the mirror before making the move and see the merging vehicle at WOT moving up on my right to pass on the inside … even with all the turning signals flashing in the driver’s face.
Be careful out there!
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Mark, three skips on a lane line (center) would equal 120′. Each skip and the space to the next skip is 40′. Counting three skips means you are accounting for 120′. That should be enough unless some moron decides to pass you on the right before you move over. I take a look in my curbside mirror, then a look at the back up camera, and then one more look back into the curbside mirror. Then and only then do I make a decision to change lanes. The way people are driving around us you can’t count on looking just once to make a decision.
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I think I speak for most when I say we can get sore necks driving our coaches. I am not only putting my head on a swivel when I intend to change lanes, but I do so when I am just sitting in my lane because I never know when I have to make a sudden lane change and I want to be always aware of my options to do so.
Will is absolutely correct when he says you have to look all over the place anytime you intend to change lanes. Nobody is using their head when driving anymore.
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Will said: “Mark, three skips on a lane line (center) would equal 120′. Each skip and the space to the next skip is 40′. Counting three skips means you are accounting for 120′. That should be enough unless some moron decides to pass you on the right before you move over. I take a look in my curbside mirror, then a look at the back up camera, and then one more look back into the curbside mirror. Then and only then do I make a decision to change lanes. The way people are driving around us you can’t count on looking just once to make a decision.”
Will, wow, I had no idea that there so much space involved. Honestly, looking through my rear camera and checking my mirrors, there looks to be barely enough space for my toad to fit in the gap (20 ft. ?). You are talking almost three times the length of our coach.
Maybe I mispoke, or the lines where we drive are not that far apart. I know I’m not leaving that much space before I start to pull over.
Safe travels,
Mark
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Mark, you did not misspeak. The length of the painted skip lane line (center) is 10′ of paint and 30′ of space , unpainted. There is a Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices which all 50 states must be in compliance. There is a section on Markings which details the length, width, text sizing and color for every marking placed on the highway system. Yes, the dimensions of the products we use on our highway system do not register well with drivers. For example, my Dad visited us years ago. I took him to our Traffic Services Shop to introduce him to my team of workers. During that visit I also showed him our inventory of signs, signal parts, and paint. When I showed him a three section 12″ red/yellow/green ball signal display his immediate response was it doesn’t look that big when hung over the road.
My method of checking when it is clear was honed during 24 years and 50,000 miles riding a 1974 Harley Superglide. When you are that exposed all of your driving techniques become hyper sensitive to other vehicles and roadway conditions. By the time I bought my coach the Harley was gone but the driving techniques had been firmly imbedded in my subconscience thought processes.
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Thank you Will,
I’m now educated on the painted lines. They look about 3 inches long! LOL!
Mark
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When you pull out to pass, ( from the proper following distance ) start counting. When you get even with the passed vehicle start to count again and check your mirrors again when you get to the number when you were even with the passed vehicle. If neither changed speeds and no other conditions changed you are good to pull over.
Practice a little and with the counting you will understand what view is proper in your mirroe and with that you will be able to use your mirror only.
JIM
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In theory JIM is correct, but how many of us have pulled out to pass a slow poke only to find the person accelerates, as if they just woke up and realize they don’t want to be stuck behind the big bus?
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