Crashing your vehicle is obviously dangerous and tragic, but for those living in a vehicle it's a doubly-bad situation — you've lost your vehicle and your house! Also, since there is typically a lot of stuff in a vehicle you live in, crashes can be much more dangerous since you can be hit by unsecured objects.
Securing items
This RV crash test video (or another) should give you some idea of what to expect inside your camper during a collision. To find more videos, try search terms like "RV crash test" or "motorhome crash test"; the "test" keyword is important since most of the other videos are dashcams and highway camera videos that don't show the interior.
As a general rule, the heavier an item in your vehicle is, the more damage it can do if it is able to move during a crash. Take care to securely fasten these items to your vehicle using heavy-duty bolts, turnbuckles, brackets, ratchet straps, or other methods.
In a crash, materials like bungee cords, wood, and small screws can easily break. When planning your build, consider each item's performance in a crash or hard stop.
Bulkheads
In a vehicle, a bulkhead is a wall or partition that separates the front cab (driving area) from the cargo area, living area, or passenger seating area. The bulkhead may contain a door to allow passthrough access. Bulkheads are also known as "partitions", "cargo dividers", "dividing walls", and "cargo walls". Many nomads remove existing bulkheads.Continue reading …Emergency exits
Emergency exits are an essential part of any vehicle. Be sure to consider them when planning your build or buying a vehicle. Emergency plans to prepare include: cooking fire or vehicle fire, vehicle tipped or flipped due to a collision, and severe weather situations.Continue reading …For other ways to stay safe in your vehicle, see Safety and security.