When people get recreational vehicles for the very first time, it is only natural for them to have several questions springing to mind.
It is possible to walk while driving an RV. However, this is highly inadvisable as the possible safety hazards posed by such an act could very well be fatal or cause you to be maimed at the least.
Several laws and general safety measures in place would warn you about such acts and advise you to wear a seatbelt and remain seated at all times while driving.
Safety Measures:
Though this should go without saying, safety measures should precede everything else when you are driving. Safety laws and rules were not nearly as carefully considered in the past as they are now. With the statistics of deaths that tend to take place in automobile or road accidents, it should be one of the highest levels of priorities to keep in mind at all times.
Laws Against Walking While Driving:
If you really did a little bit of thorough digging you would know that there are laws specifically in place to prevent such acts. These laws apply to several areas, making it a practice that is viewed with a critical eye on a general level.
RVs are already generally very big, long, and sturdy. This makes it hard to maneuver around tight corners, narrow alleys, or sometimes even regular streets. This is why RV drivers need to be especially careful about the driving laws in place in whatever countries they reside in.
One of the universal laws is the seatbelt rule that applies to tons of places. This entails that seatbelt must be worn at all times while you are driving. Walking in an RV would require you to take the seatbelt off and stand up that could cause you to face a hefty amount of fine or penalty if caught. This is why it is better if you remain seated and park the RV somewhere safe if you really want to get up and stretch your legs a bit before continuing on.
Fatal Accident:
An example of a fatal accident in an RV due to former poor laws may be evidence enough that it may not be a good idea. Initially, California went through a change of law pertaining to seat belts for certain recreational vehicles. Passengers were allowed to sit at the back without necessarily having seatbelts on.
Just a little while after this law was put into place, a fatal accident occurred, leaving the lawmakers reeling. An RV with around 20 people crammed in suffered an accident. This may have spared the lives of those involved had they been wearing seatbelts. However, due to the circumstances presented by the change of the law, they chose to forego it resulting in 12 deaths.
This example was evidence enough that the law had to be changed and all passengers must wear seatbelts while the RV is in motion. In several areas, this law continues to be imposed strictly to prevent any other such fatal incidents. This goes to show that it may truly be dangerous to walk and drive in an RV at the same time.
You can use the RV bathroom while driving. The plumbing is operational. Do not delay because you will be without seatbealt while in there.
One of the frequently asked questions while acquiring an RV for the very first time is whether you can use the bathroom in an RV while driving. No matter how silly it may sound, it is a genuine concern for many, and one we are happy to answer truthfully.
It is indeed possible to visit the bathroom if you get a sudden urge though the RV is in complete motion. As the space is not overly huge, the toilet is probably going to be situated just a short distance away from the front of the RV. This means you can indeed rush to the bathroom, try to hurry it up in there, and then rush back to your seat in the front after you are done. If the road has a few bumps along the way, the process might prove to be a tad bit harder which is also a safety concern.
Should You Use The Bathroom In A Moving RV?
Just because a certain option is available to you simply does not mean that you have to avail it. Several aspects should be considered while allowing such acts to happen.
The first question to ask before anything else is whether it is safe to use the bathroom in an RV driving onwards to its destination. The answer is quite simple and straightforward. No, it is definitely not safe to have your seatbelt unbuckled in a moving vehicle even to use the toilet despite a sudden urge.
Not only would it cause you to stumble around if the road turns bumpy or has excessive twists and turns, there could be fatal injuries as well. If in the event of a serious accident that may occur while you are in the bathroom, you would have no seatbelt on.
This instantly puts you at a severe amount of risk. You could suffer quite a lot of injuries and in extreme cases it may even prove to be fatal. Bad accidents often lead to the total wreckage of vehicles. There would be fairly less chances of surviving this if you are not in your seat with an airbag cushioning you and a seatbelt holding you in place.
What Should You Do In An Emergency?
In a state of emergency when you feel like you simply cannot hold it in, there are a few measures you can follow. The first and foremost would be to simply park the RV somewhere before going to the bathroom.
There is absolutely no shame in stopping your vehicle somewhere to the side to do your business briefly. This will ensure that you remain safe and unbothered about any incidents that may arise while you are cooped up in there.
As the toilets that are used in an RV are not as convenient that are used in residential homes, some measures should be taken in general to ensure things run smoothly. You may be more susceptible to clogging than the average toilet.
While traveling ensure that you have a trash bag on hand. Also remember to have the RV water pump turned on before using it to enable the flushing mechanism. This way you can use it fast and return to your seat without much delay.
A lot of problems may arise for an RV user especially if they are entirely new to the whole functionality. This is why research even about problems that may initially appear trivial is highly important and definitely advised upon. At first glance, though this topic itself may have appeared odd or embarrassing, it is a genuine concern of many, one that no one should shy away from. This is why you should try to stay buckled, stay well informed and always remember that it is better to be safe rather than sorry.
A trip along with close friends and family in your RV seems incomplete when there is absolutely no hint of alcohol. However, there is hardly any rider who doesn’t carry a few bottles of wine, beers or cocktails while traveling; but there are several rules that accompany the question, whether or not you can drink in a moving RV.
You should not drink in your RV will driving but people in the back can in some places. Each state in the US has different laws. These few states will allow non drivers to drink:
| State | Open Container Allowed | |
| Connecticut | Yes | |
| Delaware | Yes | |
| Missouri | Yes | |
| Mississippi | Yes | |
| Tennessee | Yes | |
| Virginia | Yes | |
| Rhode Island | Yes | |
| All other States | No | |
No alcohol should only be consumed when the RV is at rest on the campground or is at a halt. The Federal law of most countries binds the scope of alcohol and the suitable spots in which they can be opened and moving automobiles fall under its prohibition. This law is the same in case of any other vehicle on wheels to ensure that the driver doesn’t lose his concentration because of the intoxication, or the riders do not create any form of distraction for the driver under the influence of alcohol.
Once you open a bottle of alcohol inside the RV when it is moving or while it is not parked in the delineated area, it will be considered as an illegal open container and you will be legally charged for it. Furthermore, if the legal officials find you drinking in a moving RV or even catch you opening a bottle, you will be asked to present a justification and pay compensation for breaching the rules of the road. There is also a fair chance of invoking a worse situation where the whole army of passengers of the RV can be condemned by the police even when they did not have anything to do with the matter directly.
What can be done?
To be on the safer spectrum of scenarios, it is recommended that you do not carry any form of alcohol in the RV, leave along drinking it on the way. There are primarily two reasons because of which the drinking laws have been enhanced and are being practiced with superior discipline; firstly, it poses huge risks to the lives of the people inside the camper and the innocent ones around, and secondly, alcohol is a highly inflammable liquid which when not taken care of sincerely can interfere with other hazardous objects in the RV thus causing an unanticipated accident or damage of properties.
If you at all have the intention to drink while on the road, procure the alcoholic beverages once you reach the campground to remain secure from every aspect; because, even if the police finds you merely carrying the bottles, you will be held answerable to the authorities and there will be no easy escape.
Once you reach the campsite, you will hardly face any rules imposed unless you move across borders. But here are a few things that should be kept in mind while moving around in an RV.
