Caravan Guidelines

Cruise Planner FRS Radios

One of the best and most fun ways to get to an event is to caravan as a group.

01) There should be a drivers / passenger meeting prior to the caravan, announcing the destination (possibly handing out maps) and giving the general route to be followed.

02) Every caravan should have a designated Lead and Rear car appointed (equipped with radios and possibly cell phones), with those individuals knowing the route to be followed and the exact location of the destination. In larges caravan you may need a mid car or cars with the same knowledge. The responsibility of the mid car or cars is to relay information from the leader to the rear car and vice-versa. Everyone in the caravan should know who he or she is.

03) The total number of cars in the caravan should be known by everyone.

04) Announce the FRS/GMRS radio channel that will be used. Remember the radios are for information, not sharing your CD Music.

05) The slower cars and drivers should be placed up near the front (as long as they stay with lead car!) Because the cars in the rear will almost always have to go faster due to the accordion effect.

06) Obey all traffic laws. Caravans are not a speed event.

07) Headlights or running lights should be used.

08) On Freeways/Interstates try to stay in middle lanes and drive a little slower than the traffic flow. This reduces the number of cars from on-ramps, etc. from intermingling into the caravan.

09) Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you, but keep up, do not “invite” others to intermingle into our caravan. Always keep track of the car behind you because we don’t want to lose anyone.

10) If groups get separated, inform the leader so they can slow down or stop at a convenient place to re-group.

11) Try to keep from passing other members but if necessary, keep your relative position in the caravan because the others are also trying to keep track of you.

12) The lead car should not make any “right turn on red lights” and should not try to get caught at signals so that more people are grouped together.

13) When turning, use all the turning lanes so the maximum number of cars can make it through the intersection.

14) When the leader announces they are going to change lanes, it is easier if the car in the rear changes lanes first (acting as a blocker) and then all the other cars can shift over together.

15) The rear and/or mid cars should be on the lookout for cars that have experienced car
t rouble or dropped out. Inform the lead car, and then stop to determine what help or assistance is needed. Then a decision will be made as how to proceed. The rear car may need to give specific instructions to the destination.

16) We should not only caravan to the destination, but also back (or in groups) at least part way because some people may not be quite sure where they are and may experience problems on the way home.

17) Stops for restrooms, breaks, food and gas should be scheduled not more then two hours apart.

18) Common sense, safety, and courtesy should be used at all times.

REMEMBER:
This is a partnership endeavor between all the cars in the caravan, but also between the driver and passenger. It is best to let the driver do nothing but drive, and have the passenger handle all the radio communications