DEFENSIVE DRIVING
by Fred B

Years ago I attended a defensive driving course where a rather offensive trucker kept telling the other drivers not to drive beside truckers. He said that a front blow out would cause the heavy truck to swerve 50 feet right or left, depending on the side it happened. Most of us thought he was overplaying the point.

However, when our 26,000 motorhome blew a driver side tire due to many reasons. I suddenly realized his warnings were very true. We were on a highway with center concrete barricades and a construction speed of 50 mph. In spite of the slow speed, the RV swerved into the concrete barricade before I could react. The impact of the tire blowing and all its steel belting grabbing onto all that is on the underside in the wheel well was overwhelming. We hit the concrete several times before I could manhandle the rig to a safe stop.

The tire looked so much like the past failed Firestones that I sent it to Goodyear for examination. They agreed that it was a problem and paid for all related expenses. It cost them 11,000 bucks to repair our rig. They should be commended for stepping up to repair things.

What I learned from the experience.
1. First and foremost; everyone should have tire blow out assistance in the form of a steer safe type shock absorber on their rig. Manufacturers should install them when the heavy rigs are made. Michelin has a free film on how to handle a blow out and it shows the benefits of such aiding devices.
You are nuts to drive a big rig without one. If it had not been for the concrete barrier, we would have hit 18 wheelers coming towards us on the two lane highway. Being on a bridge and blowing the passenger side tire is equally frightening.
2.If a blown out tire looks unusual; photograph it and send it to the maker for examination. Reputable companies don't want the negative publicity.
3.Factory recommendations for tire pressure used to be low for ride quality. Dealers may do this also to impress you as you test drive an empty rig. Inflate the tires to tire maker settings and the rig rides hard and sounds like it might shake its self apart.
4.Check your rig for items that can snag on the tire if an airbag is low. Ours had a slide-out jack shaft that could have punctured a tire if the airbag went low or the coach got into a harmonic bounce like air bags can do on a dippy highway. I hack sawed off the extension after consulting with the factory. They agreed with my concern but had never made a recall.
5.Lastly and perhaps the most important learning for me was what to do when a blowout happens on the front end. The state trouper who investigated the accident asked what I did to control the coach. I said I tried to maintain speed and gradually let the coach slow as I tried in vain to control it. He said "WRONG". He went on the say he taught trucker defensive driving and that for heavy rigs; one need to do what IS NOT A NATURAL REACTION...immediately push the accelerator to the floor!!

I had a hard time thinking this was the correct thing but he explained that the large mass of the heavy vehicle combined with the velocity makes for too much sideways momentum once the rig starts going to the right or left. He said the only way to overcome this is to get the two rear wheels pushing forward and with great force. 

I still had a hard time accepting this so the first time I filled up, a trucker who noticed the extensive damage confirmed what one should do. He said "it ain't the natural thing to do but us truckers are trained to put the pedal to the metal as soon as the front tire blows". 
I hope this helps others...and they should get a steering aid of some type on your heavy rig. 

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