Improving Your Field Of View
Whether you’re driving a motorhome or towing a trailer, blind spots happen, especially when driving and backing. You have a huge responsibility when driving an RV to be sure that your driving field of view is as clear and distraction free as possible. Although cameras can help with visibility, there are a few simple things that you as a Class A Motorhome owner can do to improve your visibility before hitting the road.
A View Unrestricted
The easiest way to make sure that your field of view is restriction free is to remove the screens from the driver, passenger, and front door windows. I’m finding that we are in the minority of motorhome owners who do this. Not only do these screens reflect light back at the driver, but they also have the ability to distort and reduce the clarity of what one is attempting to see while looking through them. This gets even worse as the screens age and fade. Also, keep in mind that if you are in an area that is particularly dusty or heavy with pollen, the little openings in the screens can clog, further reducing clarity. The removal of these three screens does a lot to improve my visibility while driving.
And while we’re on the subject, how many of you have those decorative frosted glass decals affix to your front door? Those really cut down your field of view!
Storage of Screens
I stash my window screens vertically in a couple of locations that protect and keep them secure. The largest one (front door) slips between the arm of the couch and the wall of the slide. The driver and passenger screens slip into a slide window opening, held in place with the curtain pulled down.
Safety First
Maintaining optimum visibility is key to cultivating a safe driving experience. So before you depart, take a few minutes to remove and stow those screens from the driver, passenger and front door windows. Our safety depends on our visibility.
