DVC Caravan Guidelines

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DIABLO VALLEY CORVETTE C LUB

Caravan Guidelines  

One of the most enjoyable aspects of belonging to the Diablo Valley Corvette Club (DVCC) is camaraderie developed while driving together to a designated location in a group or caravan. The following is a simple set of Guidelines that can ensure a FUN and SAFE TRIP.  

SAFETY FIRST/SAFETY ALWAYS

Safety is paramount and DVCC promotes safe driving during all of our events.  Members are responsible for adhering to safe driving guidelines, and obeying all traffic laws of our state and/or other states/regions we travel through.  SAFETY FIRST!!!

GUIDELINES FOR OUR CLUB CARAVANS AND TRIPS.  

1.     Caravan Staging 

a.      Arrive at the designated “staging”/meeting place on time.

b.     Arrive with a full tank of gas.              

c.      Bring a “two-way” radio which will be tuned to an assigned frequency assigned by the Event Coordinator and/or Caravan Leader. 

d.     Be ready to leave the “staging” area on time. 

e.      Advise the Event Coordinator if you will meet the group along the route or at the designated location for the event. 

2.     Driver’s Meeting        

a. While at the “staging” area all drivers must attend the Driver’s meeting where:

i.         These guidelines will be reviewed;

ii.       The Event Coordinator should be prepared to hand out written driving directions to explain the route, including lunch/rest, or other stops;

iii.     Address any specific safety precautions related to the route/run. 

iv.     Reiterate SAFETY FIRST!

b.     The Event Coordinator most often leads the caravan and conducts the Driver’s meeting.    

c.      The Event Coordinator should assign a “Tail” car, which is responsible to stay in frequent contact with the Lead car via club radios to let the Lead car know when all cars have cleared a controlled intersection; to advise the Lead car if the pace is too fast or too slow, and to advise of any other circumstances that affect the safety of the caravan and/or the safety of other vehicles on the roadway. 

d.     If there are more than 12-14 cars in the caravan, consider breaking up into two or more groups.  (As a guideline a caravan of 15-20 cars can stretch over 1.5 – 2 miles of roadway). 

e.      If there are more than about 12 cars in the caravan assign interspersed occupants of vehicles in the middle to pass information to the caravan as needed.

 Radio Protocol  

a.      Monitor your two-way radio for information but keep radio chatter to a minimum.  

b.     Vehicles with both a driver and passenger should have the passenger communicate to the caravan for safety reasons. 

c.      For vehicles with a driver only DO NOT let the radio be a distraction while driving. 

3.     Underway Guidelines 

a.      Drive SAFELY! Obey all traffic laws.  Drive courteously. Drive defensively. 

b.     Use the 3-Second Rule to maintain adequate separation between you and the vehicle in front of you.  Don’t follow the Corvette ahead of you too closely and be aware of that car’s speed. Caravans have a tendency to "rubber band" rapidly and unexpectedly. 

i. The Rubber Band Effect is what you need to watch for. Fast starting and fast stopping. Always pay CLOSE attention of the vehicles in front of you. The closer you are to the front of the group the slower you will drive and the further back you are the faster you will drive to keep up. 

c.      Passing within the club group of cars should not be necessary and is not recommended.  This is a CARAVAN, NOT a RACE.

d.     The planned route should attempt to avoid rest areas or stops which require the caravan to cross oncoming traffic. 

e.      When traveling though congested areas parts of the group will likely become separated. The Lead car, through radio communication, can elect to slow down while not impeding traffic to let the group catch up; or, if it can be safely & legally done, stop and pull off the road to regroup. 

f.      If you have an emergency safely pull over; or, if you need to leave the caravan for any other reason, communicate your situation with the Leader.  If you need assistance the “Tail” car and/or another group car can assist. 

g.     There may be those who like to putt along below the speed limit and watch the scenery. If that's you and you feel the Caravan speed is too fast, just slow to the speed you like and drop back from the main group. We're all going to the same place. 

h.     Caravanning in a manner that impedes the flow of traffic is illegal. Allow other cars to move through or across the caravan. Expect this near highway entrances, exits and intersections. 

i.       On four-lane highways, i.e. Interstate Highways, stay in the same lane as the Caravan and use the other lane(s) to pass only and to let other traffic go by. 

j.       Remember that truckers are out there on the highway to earn a living - so make sure to leave one lane open at all times and don't block the truckers. Their vehicles weigh about 80,000 pounds and are not capable of Corvette-like passing and braking maneuvers.

k.     As a general rule - drive right and pass left. 

l.       Always drive within your personal limitations…safety is paramount! You will be provided with directions, lunch/rest stops, and the final destination should you have to leave and rejoin the group at a later time. 

4.     Additional tips and considerations:  

a.      Let faster traffic go by. If you are in the left lane and another car pulls up behind you wanting to overtake, momentarily move right allowing it to pass. 

b.     Caravanners must allow other vehicles to pass through or even join the caravan if they wish. You must allow other cars to pass across the caravan as they merge into or out of other lanes. Please be most vigilant of this on the Interstate, near interchanges, entrances and exits. 

c.      Please remember, caravanning in a manner that has cars following each other close enough such that non-caravan vehicles cannot pass through or across the caravan, besides being arrogant and discourteous, is illegal. Don't worry about becoming separated from the group; that is why you have your route information.  d. California Vehicle Code  

i.       21705 - Motor vehicles being driven outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space and in no event less than 100 feet between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass. 

ii.     22400 - No person shall drive upon a highway at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the reduced speed is necessary for safe operation, because of a grade, or in compliance with law.  

No person shall bring a vehicle to a complete stop upon a highway so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic unless the stop is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

e. DVCC does carry limited insurance for the club.  This coverage protects the assets        of the club, and not the driver.  One’s own private auto insurance would cover the corvette owner/driver involved in an auto collision.

Let’s arrive to our destination/event safely so we can all enjoy why we participate in these events in the first place…fun, friendship and camaraderie!!!