Alberta - For many people, summer means the opportunity to hit the road and enjoy all of the comforts of home in a fully equipped recreational vehicle (RV) or trailer. There are over 227,000 registered motorhomes, recreational and tent trailers in Alberta and that number is increasing every year.

"Each year in Alberta there are almost 400 collisions involving RVs," said Gord Kijek, Manager of Alberta Transportation's Traffic Safety Initiative "Being a good driver means being a courteous driver. When you see vehicles building up behind your RV, find a safe place to pull over to allow traffic to pass safely."

Some things to remember when driving your RV

To make sure families ride safely and comfortably throughout the summer, RV drivers need to keep several things in mind. Be aware of your vehicle's:

* Clearance, width, length and height. It is a good idea to post these measurements where you can easily see them for reference while driving.

* Limited sight lines and large blindspots. These can easily hide other vehicles from view and it is crucial that all mirrors are adjusted properly to allow you to see. When backing up, have a responsible guide stand next to the vehicle and use hand signals to help park.

* Wide turning patterns. You may have to swing into another lane to round a corner. The turning radius of an RV increases with a trailer in tow.

* Weight. RVs take longer to stop and are more difficult to steer around other vehicles. To compensate, you should allow four to six seconds between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Leave even more room in bad weather and poor road conditions.

* Inability to accelerate quickly. For this reason, be cautious when passing other vehicles.

* Towing capability. If you are towing with your RV, make sure the hitch is suitable for the trailer's weight and is fitted with approved safety chains or cables.

Towing your trailer safely

Trailers come in many shapes and sizes. Pulling a trailer requires extra care and attention because a trailer puts extra weight on your vehicle and increases the space you need to drive and stop safely. Trailer safety involves some simple and important rules.

* Consider the size, power and condition of your tow vehicle before buying a trailer. Dealers can help match your vehicle with the right type of trailer and the proper hitch system.

* A trailer must be registered and licensed before it can be used on the road.

* Before using your trailer, make sure it is in safe operating condition. Inspect the lights, tires, brakes (if equipped), bearings, safety chains and hitch.

* Recreational trailers weighing more than 907 kg and more than half of the actual weight of the towing vehicle require brakes.

* Use the correct class of trailer hitch on your vehicle. (Class I - 910 kg; Class II - 910 to 1590 kg, Class III - 1590 to 2270 kg, Class IV -2270 to 4540 kg). Repair or replace broken or worn out hitches. Contact a trailer hitch retailer for more information.

* You must have two separate means of attachment between your vehicle and the trailer. Use safety chains, each with an ultimate or breaking strength equal to the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer, that cross under the tongue and connect to the hitch. This does not apply if you are towing a fifth-wheel trailer. Contact a trailer dealer or trailer hitch retailer for information on fifth-wheel attachments.

* When attaching the trailer to a vehicle, make sure it is hitched securely. The trailer tongue should be snug on the ball when locked. Never overload the trailer. Overloading or poor load distribution can cause serious swaying and separation when driving and possible tire, wheel bearing and axle failure. Alberta legislation requires that loose objects are covered with a tarp and everything is strapped down so nothing can bounce or fly off.

* Adjust vehicle mirrors to clearly see traffic approaching from behind. You must use extension mirrors if the trailer is wider than the towing vehicle.

Alberta's legislation allows a combination of a towing unit and two trailers when:

* The lead trailer is a fifth wheel trailer.

* The lead trailer has two or more axles in tandem.

* The lead trailer is the longer trailer.

* The fifth wheel hitch is attached to the frame of the towing vehicle.

* The hitch connecting the lead trailer and the second trailer is fastened to the frame of the lead trailer.

* The maximum overall combination length is not more than 20 metres.

"You cannot accelerate as fast or stop as quickly when towing a trailer," added Kijek. "Be alert, increase your following distance, keep out of fast lanes of traffic and always use your signals when passing or turning."

For information about traffic safety, please contact the Traffic Safety Initiative at (780) 422-8839 or visit www.saferoads.com.

Contact:

Gord Kijek
Driver Safety, Research and Traffic Safety Initiative
Ph: (780) 427-6776
E-mail: Gord.Kijek@gov.ab.ca

Eileen McDonald
Communications
Ph: (780) 422-0842
Cell: (780) 913-4609
E-mail: Eileen.McDonald@gov.ab.ca