Ensuring Safety During Any Motor Coach Vacation

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There will be several variables you consider as you plan a motor coach trip or vacation, and one that will always be at or near the top of the list is safety. Both while driving the coach and once you’ve reached your eventual destination, there are a few important safety themes to maintain, including drivers, passengers and equipment being transported.

At Newell Coach, we’re proud to not only offer a wide selection of both pre-owned and new luxury motor coaches, but also expertise on their safe, proper use throughout the year. Why is safety so important for you and anyone else occupying your motor coach, and what are some general themes you can hit on to ensure you stay safe at all times? Here’s a primer.

safety motor coach vacation

Accident Statistics and Causes

For starters, it’s important to realize that accidents involving motor coaches, plus related vehicles like RVs and campers, are not uncommon. Drivers of these vehicles face the same risks as those driving other vehicle types, plus others like lesser maneuverability, longer braking distances and more.

In a typical year, over 70,000 people are injured in the US alone due to motor coach, RV and camper accidents, with over 25 deaths each year as well. Causes of these accidents range widely, from inexperienced and older drivers up through driving conditions like winds, speed and others. In addition, however, issues of overloading the coach, improper weight distribution and others may also play a role, making it important to not only consider your driving conditions and passenger safety, but also the materials and equipment you bring with you.

Our next several sections will go over a comprehensive list of safety themes to consider.

Driving Classes

First and foremost, you should realize that driving a motor coach is very different from driving a typical sedan, SUV or even a truck. In fact, even if you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you may not be qualified to drive a coach.

To become qualified, find a driving school near you that includes coaches, RVs and similar vehicles. There are many such courses, offering simple tips on driving, proper equipment packing and more. You’ll also get vital info in important areas like parking the coach, how to drive during poor weather, and more.

Advanced Planning

Another major part of motor coach safety involves simply being smart and realistic about the conditions you’ll be driving into. Even the very best motor coach drivers will still have issues during extremely poor weather, and if you know this is a realistic possibility, you may want to choose a different location.

For instance, the dead of winter during forecasted snowstorms is not an ideal time to plan a motor coach trip into the mountains – you will be exposing yourself to unsafe driving conditions the coach is not meant for. You should be considering themes like this as you plan out any motor coach trip. You can even utilize resources like the US Department of Transportation website, which keeps information on things like road conditions, traffic patterns and more for any trip you’re looking to take.

Safety Features

For all occupants of the motor coach, including not only drivers and adult passengers but also children, toddlers and even pets, it’s vital to utilize the standard safety features that are already included. The first of these is seatbelts: Every person traveling in the coach should have their own dedicated seatbelt that should be worn at all times while the vehicle is moving, especially while on highways.

For younger children, the seatbelt should be used in coordination with a car seat. If you have pets you’re bringing with you on the trip, they should be kenneled during movement if possible; if this is not possible, you should have some kind of a basic safety setup arranged for them in advance.

In addition, be sure all your interior goods and items are secure. Close cabinet doors and lock them so they don’t fly open if the coach takes a tight turn, for instance. You don’t want anything moving around that might harm a child or pet in your motor coach.

Remote Area Planning

If you know you’ll be traveling to a remote area that may or may not have traditional cell service, it’s important to make plans for alternatives. Some campgrounds will have dedicated Wi-Fi service, which you should check on in advance; if you’re going even further off the beaten path, you may want to consider bringing a radio, satellite phone or some other secondary form of communication, just in case of emergency or any problems.

For more on how to maintain safety during any motor coach trip, or to learn about any of our luxury motor coaches for sale, speak to the staff at Newell Coach today.