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Whenever driving on Florida’s roads, inevitably you will be either sharing the road with RV/motorhomes or driving an RV/motorhome. These vehicles may be traveling with attached trailers hauling other vehicles or belongings. They are very popular with about 35 million or 8.5 percent of U.S. households owning them, according to RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association).

The RVRA (Recreational Vehicle Rental Association) reported in 2013 (latest available statistics) that in their survey of rental dealers they found a “sharp uptick” in rentals and rental revenue. (The most popular rental term was six to seven nights.)

According to CNBC in 2015, some of the reasons these vehicles have become so popular are:

• The freedom and flexibility they offer to come and go as you please.
• Most are not difficult to drive.
• Another popular aspect among retirees is following the seasons. Snowbirds, for example, like to travel south for the winter, while southerners migrate north during the hot summer months.
• RV/motorhome travel is cheaper than traveling by car, plane or train, especially when factoring in lodging and restaurant costs.

There are special requirements in many states for drivers who drive heavy vehicles including RV/motorhomes. Florida’s license manual states that a Class E license is valid up to 26,000 pounds. However, Florida statute 322.53(2)(d) exempts all RVs from the CDL (commercial driver’s license) requirement regardless of weight. The Class E license includes passenger cars, 15-passenger vans, trucks or recreational vehicles and two or three-wheel motor vehicles 50cc or less, such as mopeds or small scooters.

Are RV/motorhomes safe?

According to the latest Traffic Safety Report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) in 2013, of the 44,868 vehicles involved in fatal crashes, 33 were motorhomes.

In February 2016, one person died and another person suffered third degree burns after their motorhome crashed into a roadside ditch and hit a tree on U.S. 1 near I-95 in Ormand Beach, FL. Investigators said the impact was so dramatic, that when the RV slammed into the tree, it exploded, sending parts all over a parking lot, according to WESH-TV News in Volusia County.

Important tips for RV/motorhome drivers from funroads.com RV blog:

Two of the biggest safety problems with RV/motorhomes are overloading and under-inflation.

• Overloading and weight distribution, even slightly, can seriously restrict braking and steering and cause sudden blowouts or breakdowns. Drivers can visit a public weigh station when fully loaded to help determine whether the vehicle is overloaded.
• When tires are under-inflated, there can be blowouts which can cause a loss of control of the vehicle. The load-carrying capacity is lowered when tires are under-inflated. Tires that are 10 psi below the rated pressure can lose 25 to 50 percent of their load-carrying capacity.

Important driving tips for sharing the road with RV/motorhomes from AARP:

• Give them plenty of room as they cannot maneuver quickly.
• Do not follow too closely.
• Watch for the driver’s signals.
• Beware of no-zones (blind spots) where the RV/motorhome driver cannot see you.

“Being involved in a vehicle accident can be traumatic and lead to serious injuries and even death. Should you or a family member be involved in an accident with an RV or motorhome, contact our experienced team of lawyers at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.,” said Charlotte County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

Charlotte County Vehicle Accident Attorney,  Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.