turns out that I can't drive :( (1 Viewer)

[Paul J]

50 miles on a new motorhome, and destroyed my o/s side mirror on an oncoming builders van, not good, confidence firmly knocked, not impressed with myself. Road was narrow, I knew it, could have gone another way home, was in the works traffic too. Might take some time to gain confidence back. Daft question, but other than just driving it, is there any particular practice thats worthwhile to start judging the size (mainly width) of the van ?

Thanks

Paul

 

[dabhand]

It’s all about defensive driving, slow down to a stop if your unsure

 

[Wildbill]

Just find a nice quiet road and start maneuvering it driving it and using it is the only way to get used to it if not sure just stop.
bill

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[Paul J]

It was a bad set of circumstances, a curve in the road, was only going slow, we both slowed further, but there just wasn’t the room on the road, if I’d stopped, he would have still hit me, might have been less damage though, still, I could have handled the situation better

 

[Zigisla]

Nothing to say that the builder's van wasn't driving properly. Unless of course it was stationary.. Practice, practice, practice.

And buy a set of Mirror Guards..

 

[DuxDeluxe]

It was a bad set of circumstances, a curve in the road, was only going slow, we both slowed further, but there just wasn’t the room on the road, if I’d stopped, he would have still hit me, might have been less damage though, still, I could have handled the situation better

I would put that one down to bad luck. Advice as above - if you were stopped, he hit you! Get a good dashcam and drive on. Don’t dwell on it.

P.S. probably cheaper not to claim off insurance - there is a place online where you can source replacements. https://www.wingmirrorman.co.uk/motorhome-mirrors

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[Mr Chrysalis]

Sorry that you hit something, but at least a mirror is a “bolt on thing” and easily replaced, even though not cheap. Put it down to experience, get it fixed and move on. Think back to when you first drove a car, it probably felt really wide. Try driving between cones in an empty carpark to see how close your judgement is.

 

[Derbyshire wanderer]

As said above you do need to be prepared to stop if you think you may not comfortably run completely in your own side of the road.
That said I had a blue transit over the white line who broke my mirror this January on a fairly tight road even with Mirror Guards fitted.
Most mirror and case parts are available at a fraction of the complete unit cost and quite easy to repair.
I glued the mirror guard and replaced the casing, indicator and lower mirror glass for £47.
It’s not worth beating yourself up about as it happens to plenty of drivers at some point or other

 

[Barclaybasher]

I've had 3 in the last 3 years, the last one I managed to pull up before the local bus (that didn't slow down) hit....

Mine only cost a £5 and take minutes to replace but it's always a shock when it happens

Don't dwell on it just be glad no other damage was done

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[Paul J]

Thanks for all your advice, I’ll get the knack of it. New mirror case is on order from Fiat

 

[Ivory55]

My tip is when you start reversing it take your time and remember to check the front of the van as well. You can get so fixed on looking in the mirrors when reversing and forget the front and catch a front corner. Remember nobody was born a driver we all learned.

 

[joka250]

I've been driving all sorts big and small for 50 years and I still have nervous moments on narrow roads but you just have to keep soldiering on and as others have said if in doubt stop. I also think you can use the view in your mirrors to gauge your position as you drive, in my opinion mirrors just as important forward as backward movement even at speed. Don't be put off, we've all been there or come pretty close.
Relax and enjoy.

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[rosalan]

I am so sorry to hear of your misadventure. Take heart that I am sure you are not the only one driving a new, wider than a car vehicle to encounter a minor accident..
When we walk our feet skim obstacles by millimetres as we sense the exact distance to do so. When we first learn to drive, gauging the width of your first car is at first quite a challenge until that sixth sense kicks in, then, once familiar with our car we can boldly go through previously unthinkable gaps.
I gather you are driving a new, to you, van after driving confidently in your car. Step into a familiar driving position behind the wheel and that finely honed driving skill may well fool you once, but the mirror will be a difficult to forget reminder to allow a tad more space in the van. No need to lose confidence, treat it as a learning experience and move on.
Good luck!

 

[Paul J]

Thank you guys, I’ll be out this evening for a drive about good point about using the mirrors to judge passing distances ‘forwards’

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

One other thing, using cones practice tight turns in a restricted place and watch how the back of the m/home swings out.

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[chaser]

a lost mirror isnt any reason to doubt your driving , probably just as much the other blokes fault, builders van? bet he isnt worrying about his , just an everyday occurance to delivery drivers and the like , must admit iv broke quite a few in my van driving days.

 

[Deneb]

Fit mirrorguards with reflective tape attached, facing forwards. It works wonders on modifying the behaviour of oncoming drivers. I honestly don't think some of them see the black mirror casings, but make them brightly coloured and high vis, and they suddenly think something twice the width is coming towards them

 

[Janine]

I was given a useful bit of advice from an ex-trucker. If you look in your wing mirror you should be able to see the centre line. If you can't, maybe you are too far over

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[mikebeaches]

Sorry to hear about your mishap, although thank goodness it wasn't worse.

If you have a modern coachbuilt Ducato/Peugeot-based van (post 2006), the long-arm rear view mirrors stick out an inordinate amount. And you really do need plenty of space to get through safely.

As others have suggested, it's worth putting something bright and reflective on the back of the mirror covers - if your van is white, for example, the black mirrors just do not show up to oncoming drivers.

Try not to let the incident bother you too much and start enjoying your new van!

 

[Silver-Fox]

In those famous words s**t happens, sort out the damage and move on.

Ive taken to driving with my lights on then oncoming traffic can be slightly intimidated and makes them realise your not a small car, so concentrates their mind a little

Relax and enjoy

 

[Just smiffy]

Don’t come to Croatia, they all drive in the middle of the road....


Many a time in the last two weeks a car has come round a corner and seen me to swerve back to his side.....

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[tacr2man]

Because you are driving a "new" vehicle you have to get your brains "spatial awareness" reset to the new vehicle . This is done by familiarity , and can be speeded up by increased inputs eg look in your mirrors frequently (you should anyway) and try and relate the vehicle to say the center white line , and then immediately do the same with nearside , this will build a "model" of size of vehicle in your head . Then you can use this model (subconsciously) to guage the extra needed for the mirrors. Like bike riding , if you stop driving your MoHo , for a spell , take extra care when you next drive and repeat the above exercise to dial yourself in quicker .
I have found it works well in my RV and that's 2.55mtrs before the mirrors start , and I am sat on the LHS , I have also put diagonal reflex white , and Hi vis yellow stripes on the mirrors , its all worked so far
@Paul J

 

[Minxy]

I hate to think what Fiat ar charging you for a new mirror ... have a look on Ebay for one, you often get genuine Fiat ones a lot, lot cheaper, you just need to make sure you get the right size and type for your MH.

 

[Nasher]

Don't worry about it - it's only a mirror.

Not sure how often you drive your van, but it may be worth taking it out as often as possible to get used to it - practice makes perfect

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[Silver-Fox]

You can go on courses for driving a MoHo.
Or even half a day in a 3.5 or 7.5 tonner

 

[Teuchter]

My tip is when you start reversing it take your time and remember to check the front of the van as well. You can get so fixed on looking in the mirrors when reversing and forget the front and catch a front corner. Remember nobody was born a driver we all learned.

Sound advice!! also check the height too - MoHos don't like low overhanging tree branches!!

 

[Southdowners]

I'm getting used to the size of our new motorhome - its 7.49 tonnes and 2.4 wide.

We drive mostly on the continent and its a LHD vehicle, so all good. However, since being in Germany over the last 5 weeks we've come across innumerable roadworks where the lanes have been narrowed and then often have concrete dividing blocks between the lanes. It feels as though there's only a couple of inches to spare and, for the most part, there actually is only inches to spare. There are also thousands of articulated lorries travelling on the same roads.

What I find useful is to constantly keep the inside white line in my mirror's view. It's a tiring way to drive and takes a lot of concentration but when you're on very narrow lane widths you have no option really. If you know that you're right up to the inner edge of the roadway you'll find (usually) that everything is OK... although sometimes you may wince a bit!

Don't let this incident put you off - its only a mirror, so no real harm done. Get it fixed as soon as you can and get back out there - don't overthink it.

Good luck

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[Paul J]

Great points made, I like the idea of ‘lights on’, entirely sensible

 

[pappajohn]

On narrow roads SLOW DOWN and drive in the middle...... Oncoming drivers WILL STOP, even builders and buses.

 

[Paul J]

I totally overthink ! Just spent half an hour deciding which cupboard to put the kettle in !