A Few Tips for Safely Driving Your RV at Night

Part of the fun of owning an RV is having the freedom to come and go as you please. Most of us prefer driving our RVs during the daytime because it offers the best visibility, but sometimes you want to stay a little longer at an attraction or spend more time catching up with distant relatives. You don’t have to worry about missing check-in time at a hotel, and most RV parks are accustomed to receiving guests after hours. All you usually have to do is call ahead to make sure they know you’re still coming. But if you do need to drive your RV after dark, it’s important to operate the vehicle safely. Here’s a quick guide to safe nighttime RV operation. To learn more, visit The RV Guys in Valley View, Texas, serving RV lovers in North Texas.

Keep Your Windshield Clean

You can often tell how long you’ve been on the road by the number of dead bugs accumulated on your windshield (especially if you drive a class A motorhome), but a dirty windshield significantly reduces your visibility. It’s hard to see during the daytime, and a dirty or hazy windshield will also distort and reflect light at night. Be sure to also clean your mirrors and headlights regularly.

Take Your Time

The faster that you’re going, the greater distance it will require you to come to a stop. RVs are already large and difficult enough to stop when you’re driving the speed limit, so definitely don’t speed at night (or any other time). The minutes that you potentially save by speeding aren’t worth the cost of a ticket or risking your family’s safety.

Use the Appropriate Lights

High beams are safe to use at night, but be sure to dim them right away when you see oncoming traffic. Fog lights are also nice to have on a dark night because they help illuminate a wider field of vision.

Watch out for Wildlife

Animals get more adventurous at night, and often seemingly appear from nowhere. Resist the instinct to swerve, because it’s even more dangerous than usual in a larger vehicle or a vehicle pulling a trailer. Try to come to a controlled stop if you can. 

Stay Awake

Most drivers have a variety of tricks to stay alert after dark, such as asking a passenger riding shotgun to stay awake or cranking up music. Sit upright and forward, and don’t use cruise control. Keep the temperature cooler than usual with the fan blowing. If you start nodding off, find a place to stop and rest immediately.

For more information and to see our current inventory of RVs for sale, visit The RV Guys in Valley View, Texas, serving North Texas.