So many people are trying to avoid air travel right now, but RVers need to know how to stay safe. Spending more time outdoors can greatly improve overall health and wellness due to the increased opportunities for physical activity, mental health, and stress reduction. However, in many ways, an RV trip can lead to travel risks. Contrary to popular belief, RV road trips aren’t always safer than a more traditional vacation.
Here are RV trip safety concerns you should be aware of.
Rented RVs May Not Meet Sanitary Expectations
Renting an RV can allow you to avoid some of the hygiene challenges that you come across at hotels. They have their own sets of high-touch items such as the steering wheel, seat belts, tables, microwaves, and doorknobs. You may want to check the RV rental company’s cleaning procedures. It is important that they sanitize every vehicle after it’s returned. If you’re renting directly from a private owner, standards are not guaranteed.
Poor Weather Conditions
Uncertain weather and natural disasters can make travel plans much more complicated. Summertime brings extreme fire danger and hurricane season extends from summer into fall. Being on the road during a natural disaster is not only extremely dangerous, severe weather often causes campgrounds to close temporarily.
Higher Accident Risk
RVs have their own challenges that traditional cars typically don’t have, such as overloaded or unevenly loaded RVs or increased rollover risk due to a higher center of gravity and larger blind spots. It is best to travel during daylight hours and never make hasty driving decisions. Be sure to take wider corners and drive much slower than you usually would, and keep wider distances between cars. Keep in mind that RVs brake slower than other vehicles, so prepare to stop well in advance.
Other Facility Concerns
Shared bathrooms and showers promote the spread of germs. If you have to use the shared facilities at a campground, you should note that viruses can spread through faulty plumbing and poor ventilation systems in these public areas. You should bring your portable toilet and shower or, depending on where you are camping, you may be able to use the open outdoors.
A Flood of Campers at RV Campgrounds
You may want to take a road trip to avoid people. But if you’re staying at an RV campground, you’ll probably find that many other people have the same idea as you. You may have to go into the campground office, where there are many people standing close together. Some campgrounds are now offering curbside check-in to avoid going into an office.
Gas Station Stops
An RV rental may get around 6-10 miles per gallon, which means you might find yourself at the gas station a lot, and gas prices are not the best. These stops also force you to come in contact with more public objects. The reality is, all travel comes with some level of risk, and RVs aren’t necessarily exempt. Regardless, do what you can to enjoy your summer!
About Sine Insurance
At Sine Insurance Group, we are dedicated to providing you with custom-tailored insurance policies to protect your assets. Our comprehensive packages have been expertly crafted to serve St. Louis and the surrounding areas for the past 25 years. For more information about our products, contact us today at (855) 700-0889.