Highway 20 Willits to Fort Bragg, Calif. ???

The directions on the sign are not vague at all. You must pull over to allow passing. No where does it indicate how many vehicles must be behind you. Every such sign in California reads the same. When driving in the state you are expected to know the law which says you must pull over when "SAFE" to do so to allow faster vehicles to pass.

paulj wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
...
I actually took a picture of the sign, first posted a few miles out of Fort Bragg....

maybe it shows up on google maps streetview.

Slower vehicles must pull over to permit passing
at 3.7 miles, the start of the curves.

slower traffic use turnouts

Many thanks for that, Paul- that's the sign, all right! And since someone else has posted the actual law, I guess the real problem is local interpretation of the very vague directive on the sign. With one vehicle behind, pacing on the bumper, it's get-over-or-get-RUN OVER, in my experience.

I'm just telling y'all what I experienced over the four weeks total I spent going back and forth over that road. Part of the problem is probably also the way speed limits are posted on it- hairpin curves with 15-20 mph limits followed by a mile long stretch of 50 mph, followed by another hairpin.

Here's the relevant section from the CA vehicle code:


"V C Section 21656 Turning Out of Slow Moving Vehicles

Turning Out of Slow-Moving Vehicles

21656. On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, a slow-moving vehicle, including a passenger vehicle, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed. As used in this section a slow-moving vehicle is one which is proceeding at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place.

Amended Ch. 448, Stats. 1965. Effective September 17, 1965."
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I agree with RognBon that if there *is* a sign stating that a slower-moving vehicle must pull over when followed by ONE vehicle who's in a big yank to get to wherever, it's likely a "homegrown"; 20 is the only (direct) route between Fort Bragg and Willets.

Thats_Ok wrote:
Pulled different trailers from Willits to US 101 numerous times.

Not a bad drive at all.
As mentioned there will be a lot of yielding to following traffic.

Only bummer is slowing to relieve traffic then having to grind out again to get up to speed with a heavy rig.
People in that area that drive 20 to 101 know it's how it is so they deal with it.

Just for grins try Branscom Rd out of Laytonville to Westport Union.
Actually not a bad road except for the trucks in and out of the mill up there.

Willits is on Hwy 101, I think you mean from Willits to Hwy 1, fort Bragg.

There are several posters that are referring to Hwy 20 from I 5 to 101 and the poster is asking about Hwy 20 from Willits, Hwy 101, to Fort Bragg at Hwy 1. Two different types of Hwy's so it is best to keep the reference as posted so as not to confuse the topic.

Pulled different trailers from Willits to US 101 numerous times.

Not a bad drive at all.
As mentioned there will be a lot of yielding to following traffic.

Only bummer is slowing to relieve traffic then having to grind out again to get up to speed with a heavy rig.
People in that area that drive 20 to 101 know it's how it is so they deal with it.

Just for grins try Branscom Rd out of Laytonville to Westport Union.
Actually not a bad road except for the trucks in and out of the mill up there.

At both ends of Hwy 20 in Willits and Fort Bragg and in several places on the road the standard signs are posted: "Slower traffic must pull over to allow passing" and "Slower traffic must use turnouts to allow passing". And there are "PLENTY" of pullouts in both directions to allow you to do so. I have been through there twice in both directions in the past 6 weeks. This is by far one of the less difficult drives in the state. If any such sign dictating "pull over for one vehicle" exists it was put up by a local and is not an official state road sign.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
...
I actually took a picture of the sign, first posted a few miles out of Fort Bragg....

maybe it shows up on google maps streetview.

Slower vehicles must pull over to permit passing
at 3.7 miles, the start of the curves.

slower traffic use turnouts

RognBon wrote:

Francesca Knowles on 07/21/13 03 wrote:
the posted, very bizarre rule that one has to yield to A SINGLE VEHICLE when it comes up behind you.

I have driven this section of hwy 20 for over 40 years and there is no such rule.



.

Oh, yes...there is!

I actually took a picture of the sign, first posted a few miles out of Fort Bragg. If only this site allowed uploads from my computer I'd post it.

I agree that it's total madness- coming as I do from a State where one must yield to behind-traffic only once they've piled up to five vehicles it made/makes no sense to me whatsoever. But that's not the case in California, at least as posted on that section of Hwy. 20.

And I had plenty of folks breathing down my neck when traveling that road...so they, at least, take the rule seriously.

As noted earlier, that 35 miles will take anyone towing/driving a bigger RV around an hour to negotiate it. If traveled during commuter hours, there will be a lot of hot-under-the-collar-folks stacking up behind.

Be prepared!

Francesca Knowles on 07/21/13 03 wrote:
the posted, very bizarre rule that one has to yield to A SINGLE VEHICLE when it comes up behind you.

I have driven this section of hwy 20 for over 40 years and there is no such rule.

djgarcia on 07/21/13 04 wrote:
Are you sure you haven't confused Hwy. 20 with Hwy. 299 out of Redding.

Once you reach the junction of 101/20 you head North to Willits where hwy 20 continues on to Fort Bragg.