Desert Captain
Payson
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We were northbound on Highway 89 between Flagstaff and Page Arizona last Sunday morning. While this stretch of 89 is pretty good road it alternates between 2 and 3 lanes. About 25 miles south of Page southbound it was two lanes with just a double yellow line separating them from the northbound traffic.
Southbound traffic was fairly heavy as we ascended a long grade. I was doing 63 but the southbound sound traffic looked to be traveling at closer to 70+. Suddenly as a large class A approached in his left lane I briefly thought his toad had come loose but quickly realized it was a small mini van attempting to pass over the double yellow lines and completely filling my lane. ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
There was only about 3' of paved shoulder which quickly dropped off steeply so my options and time remaining were disappearing fast. I jammed on my brakes and thankfully the ABS did it's job seriously slowing my 24' Class C {I was towing a 2,500# 10' Cargo trailer} with no loss of control and I was able to move right to the edge of the shoulder still traveling at more than 40 mph.
Neither the Class A or the moron in the mini van slowed and actually it looked like a death race to see who could get us all killed first. The minivan squeaked by the Class A and started moving back across the double yellows nearly hitting the motorhome and missing my drivers side mirror by less than a foot. Had we all collided another 6 to10 southbound cars would probably have been involved. It all took place in matter of mere seconds and my hugging the edge of the shoulder while braking hard were the ONLY things that keep us and probably several others from being killed. A few inches more to the right and we would have rolled our rig right off of the highway.
Once we got out heart rates back undef 100 my bride and I continued on for nearly 5 minutes before even speaking and what we had to say is not fit to print. What in the heck is wrong with people? ![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/scratchead.gif "scratchead") While the mini van was the scariest driver I have ever encountered and probably impaired beyond being terminally stupid the Class A driver could have diffused the situation by simply getting on his brakes and letting the idiot squeeze in... why kill us???
![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/mad.gif "mad")
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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Because unfortunately there are many people who don't give a rats arse about anybody else.
It's also possible that the MH driver was talking to the co pilot and not even aware of the minivan coming up on the side.
Either way glad you managed to escape unscathed to be able to RV another day.
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obgraham
TriCites WA
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As I read the news reports about road wrecks and/or fatalities I am amazed at the number of intoxicated people out on the roads.
I don't know the answer, but the rest of us are at their mercy.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Maybe I'm not fully understanding:
- OP is NB climbing a grade with a single NB lane.
- Class A is SB (in the center lane?)
- Minivan is SB and is passing in the NB lane.
Was there someone in the SB right lane forcing SB traffic to run 3 wide?
How steep was the grade and in which direction?
Were there other SB vehicles in close proximity?
Quite possible, the Class A wasn't expecting or watching for a crazy to cross the double yellow. If there was another RV behind, was the Class A worried that RV behind couldn't stop?
With hindsight it may have been better if the Class A hit the brakes but when being passed, the appropriate response is to hold a steady speed. If the Class A had hit the brakes and at the same time the minivan decided he didn't have enough room to pass and hit his brakes, the minivan could have been trapped in the oncoming lane. By holding a steady speed, you allow the passing vehicle to react without having to worry about what you are going to do.
If I'm understanding the situation, the blame is squarely on the minivan. No need to drag others in.
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CA Traveler
The Western States
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I know someone traveling to work on a 2 lane 65MPH road with 3 cars behind her. A car started to pull out behind an oncoming semi and then pulled back in. Then the car suddenly pulled out again and crossed in front of friends car with only a few feet to spare, continued on to friends right shoulder (no lane) kept going on the friends shoulder and the 3 cars behind friend and kept going passing the semi.
That would have been a serious 5 car accident plus the semi!
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bgum
South Louisiana
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In the past two years we have been passed by a motorcycle one of which was going well in excess of 100 mph. The second one occurred on top of the Mississippi River Bridge. He was easily going 85-90 mph. Both had a margin of error measured in inches when they cut in front of us. The one on the Bridge would have slid until he hit a beam or gone through the railing. Both of which would have been fatal. I surely don't feel responsible for these idiots medical care.
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Desert Captain
Payson
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Valhall360,
You need to go back and reread my original post.
Was there someone in the SB right lane forcing SB traffic to run 3 wide?
No.
How steep was the grade and in which direction?
About 3 percent with northbound traffic going up.
Were there other SB vehicles in close proximity?
Yes.
Quite possible, the Class A wasn't expecting or watching for a crazy to cross the double yellow. If there was another RV behind, was the Class A worried that RV behind couldn't stop?
I made no mention of another motorhome because there wasn't one. There was no, none, zip, nada excuse for the motorhome to not be aware of what was taking place. When driving you are responsible for knowing what is going on around you at all times... it is not optional.
With hindsight it may have been better if the Class A hit the brakes but when being passed, the appropriate response is to hold a steady speed.
That argument goes out the window when the van crossed completely into my { northbound} lane making it everyone's responsibility to take any requisite action to avoid what in this case would have been a catastrophic collision.
If the Class A had hit the brakes and at the same time the minivan decided he didn't have enough room to pass and hit his brakes, the minivan could have been trapped in the oncoming lane. By holding a steady speed, you allow the passing vehicle to react without having to worry about what you are going to do.
That is fine if you are not dealing with an impaired/ moron of a driver.
The motorhome, had he been paying attention, had ample time to back off and allow the idiot to pass without killing some or probably all of us. Instead he held his speed {and may have been increasing it for all I know}. What I do know is that he took no action whatsoever to mitigate the situation and chose to make things worse.
When you are traveling at roughly the same speed and trying to pass a 65 +/- feet long motorhome it takes a time to pass which would have given the motorhome time to react safely had he been paying attention.
If I'm understanding the situation, the blame is squarely on the minivan. No need to drag others in.
Clearly you are not... Yes the mini van was the primary malefactor here but the motorhome by his actions elevated everyones risk when he did not back off. As noted he appeared to be trying to holdoff the van from successfully passing him and THAT nearly killed my bride and I.
![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
* This post was
edited 09/15/22 01:25pm by Desert Captain *
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nickthehunter
Midwest
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You can condescendingly roll your eyes all you want but I also had difficulty making sense of your story. And my good common sense says I need to leave it at that although I have …..
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dedmiston
Coast to Coast
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Maybe I was dropped on my head as a kid, but I understood the story.
Class A getting passed by a minivan didn’t slow down and the the Class A in his lane plus the minivan in the OP’s lane created a phalanx and nearly wiped out the OP.
Shame on the minivan for passing where the visibility was bad; shame on the Class A for not letting the the minivan in; and shame on the minivan one more time for even driving a minivan in the first place.
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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Well you see the RV in front of Mr. Idiot was not moving fast enough. Staying a SAFE DISTANCE (The distance you travel in 3-5 seconds) was not fast enough for him.. He wanted to break the speed limit and get there perhaps 30 seconds faster.
Or perhaps he was in a real big hurry to get to here he is going (you denied him that trip) Where is he going.. Same place we all are.. His Funeral.
May he not take anyone else with him.
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