RVing Women, Spring 2000
By Arlene Van Note

Traveling alone can entail greater risks than traveling with others.  But that's no reason it shouldn't be done.  Women are particularly vulnerable when traveling solo,  but men aren't immune from trouble, either.  For all of us, proper planning can minimize the risks without lessening our enjoyment of a trip.

1. Post your itinerary.  Before you set out, let a family member or close friend know your itinerary, travel route, and campground stopovers.  For a short outing, verbal information can suffice; for a longer one, you'll need to write or type it out.  Posting your schedule serves two purposes:  one, it gives others a way to contact you in case of an emergency, and two, they'll know where you should be if they don't hear from you.
   
2. Phone or e-mail often.  Regularly scheduled phone calls, letters or e-mail messages provide an extra measure of security,  because someone is expecting to hear from you.  Besides, it's fun to share your enjoyment with those left behind.
   
3. Carry a portable phone.  Should a breakdown occur, you'll want to be a mere phone call away from help.  Program in the numbers for 9-1-1 (your phone service provider may have already done so); an auto club or emergency road service to which you subscribe, and the person most likely to be home if you need to make contact in a hurry.   Having these numbers in memory allows you to dial out with just a few button pushes.
   
4. Carry identification and insurance information.  Include phone numbers valid for emergencies, holidays, and weekends.  You hope never to need them, of course, but accidents do happen , even to the safest of drivers.
   
5. Update your map collection.  There's nothing like a good map when you are heading into unfamiliar territory.  If you have a computer and access to the Internet, log on to one of the map Web sites.  Some sites are:  www.mapblast.com, www.mapquest.com, www.mapsonus.com.  The routing services of DeLorme are available on the home page of RVW's website:  wwww.rvingwomen.com.   you can print out maps for use en route, as well as detailed routing for use in locating a certain destination.  Collect a library of reference books, campground directory, truckstop directory, Highway Exit directory, etc.  Knowledge is power.
   
6. Check road conditions.  When traveling off the superhighways, it's a good idea to phone ahead to obtain info about road closures, weather conditions, etc.   Carrying a weather radio is a good idea, too.  You'd probably rather hunker down and wait out a storm than drive right into it.  Sometimes it leads to delightful adventures.  If your campground has cable TV, check the weather channel for general, as well as specific local, weather news.
   
7. Service your RV.  Before leaving on an extended trip, make certain it's working properly.  Before any length trip you'll want to check out things such as vehicle lights, tires, windshield wipers, interior lights and fluid levels.  If your RV requires special order or hard-to-find parts, carry a few of the more common with you.   It may save you a 2-3 day wait in a service department.
   
8. Fill 'er up.  Keep your fuel tank level over half-full.  Know your gauge's habits - in one of my rigs, the gas gauge crept down slowly to the half-tank mark, then plummeted to the bottom.  Your gauge may have other idiosyncrasies.  Check your gas mileage and tank capacity against your fuel gauge.  My most recent trip revealed that the fuel gauge indicated half full at approximately 200 miles.  My gas usage showed that 150 miles was a more accurate measure of half.  I'm not willing to run the tank down into those cute little red marks (that indicates it's time to panic 'cuz you're almost out of gas) in order to test the final accuracy of that 200  mile figure!
   
9. Lock doors.  Keep the coach doors locked when driving, especially in unfamiliar cities.  If the access door to the living area is unlocked, you're vulnerable to an uninvited passenger.  Don't drive through town with your windows fully down.  Even though you're higher than automobiles, someone intent on tossing you out and stealing your vehicle (or grabbing your purse if you're a woman) can find a way to reach you.  When parking your vehicle, always lock the doors - even if you'll be away only a few minutes.  When you return have your keys in hand, so you don't have to fumble around for them.  Once inside the RV, make a quick check of the living area and you're ready to go.
   
10. Stay in your rig.  Keep a CALL POLICE sign in a side pocket so you can drape it across the dashboard in an emergency.  Of course, this is a very good time to use that portable phone (you do keep it charged up, right?).  If a stranger stops to offer aid, you'll be safer if you converse through a window that's open no more than a few inches.  Unless it is dangerous to remain in the vehicle, graciously decline an offer of a ride, and suggest instead that the person contact authorities on your behalf.
    
11. Be alert in garages and parking lots.  Some of the smaller vans and campers can utilize parking garages.  If using such a facility, always be aware of your surroundings.  When exiting your vehicle, walk confidently to the nearest exit. When returning, have your key exposed and ready.  Walk directly to the vehicle and enter it quickly.  Lock doors.  Once the engine is started, don't sit around, proceed immediately to the garage exit.
    
12. Best advice:  You are the one responsible for your own personal safety.   Make this trip and future ones full of beauty, exciting experiences and new friends.