By Chris Smith
FMCA Executive Director/CFO
November 2017
FMCA Executive Director/CFO
Like all of you, I’m sure, I have many things to be thankful for. I have a wonderful, healthy family, with a new addition, a son, on the way in December. My wife and I recently found our forever home here in Cincinnati, and by the time you read this, we should be settled in there.
I also celebrated a really special anniversary on October 14. This marked one year since I was named executive director at FMCA. It has been an unforgettable year. FMCA had two successful international conventions where we met or exceeded attendance budgets. Our membership grew 5.2 percent during fiscal year 2017, which ran from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2017. I have met many great people in the RV community — members and industry folks alike. Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your executive director. I hope to celebrate many more anniversaries with you all.
Switching gears a bit, I recently learned that National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week falls during the month of November. This year, it’s November 5 through 12. This is a topic all drivers should take note of, but it is especially pertinent to FMCA members, who spend so much time on the road.
Driving under the influence receives quite a bit of attention, and well it should, but did you know that according to the National Safety Council, losing two hours of sleep and getting behind the wheel is similar to having three beers? Driving on four to five hours of sleep leaves you four times more likely to crash. And here is a scary statistic: 30 percent of people report dozing off behind the wheel at some point. The sad news is that 6,400 people die each year because of drowsy driving crashes.
How do we protect ourselves from drowsy driving? Experts recommend that drivers have at least seven hours of sleep before getting behind the wheel, and they suggest stopping to rest after every two hours, or 100 miles, of driving. Get out of the RV and move around. Take a brisk walk, if possible, to recharge.
If you’re on a long road trip, schedule some nap time. Motorhome owners are uniquely prepared for that, since they carry their beds with them! Find a safe place to park for a bit and take a power nap. It’s also best to schedule trips so that you are driving during the times when you normally are awake.
Whenever possible, plan your trip so that you aren’t trying to cover too many miles in a day. Remember, when you’re RVing, the journey should be just as fun as the destination.
Also note that contrary to popular belief, experts say that listening to loud music and rolling down the windows will not protect you from drowsy driving.
Although drowsy driving doesn’t receive a great deal of attention, it is a serious topic with devastating consequences in terms of lost lives — sometimes entire families — as well as injuries and property damage.
Another concern these days is distracted driving. I don’t know about you, but I seem to encounter drivers on a regular basis who are something other than focusing on the road. Experts note that this is one of the fastest growing safety issues on the road today. Talking on a cell phone or texting likely are the first things that come to mind when you think of distracted driving, but it could include eating and drinking, talking with passengers in your vehicle, adjusting the radio or focusing on the GPS. Anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off what you should be doing, which is driving safely, results in distracted driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving resulted in the loss of 3,477 lives in 2015 alone, as well as 391,000 injuries.
While we can’t control what other drivers do, we can stay alert to what’s happening around us and make sure that we are well-rested before traveling; take breaks during long trips; and avoid distractions while behind the wheel.
I am hoping to have some exciting member benefit news for my December column. We have been working on quite a few benefits, and it seems they are coming to fruition all at the same time. Should be a great article to read. Stay tuned! Until then, Happy Thanksgiving to all. Enjoy the journey!
The FMCA national office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 23 and 24, for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The office also will be closed Monday, December 25, through Monday, January 1, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. It will reopen on Tuesday, January 2, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.