Beware of Falling Rocks - WTH

[holstein13]

I've traveled quite a bit through the mountains the past few years and often pause to consider exactly what the "Beware of Falling Rocks" actually means.

I assume that rocks occasionally break away from the mountain side and come crashing down or roll onto the road surface. But how often does this happen, how big is the danger, and what, exactly, should we be doing in addition to our normal vigilance to prevent a problem? For the record, I have never seen any large rocks on the road anywhere near the "falling rocks" signs.

Seriously, I am constantly watching the road for any debris. Things fall off of trucks and cars all the time. Things get blown onto the road and I see debris all the time on the road. Aren't we supposed to be watching out for this anyway? Why the special attention to rocks?

If there are so many rocks falling from the mountain that this is a likely event, then I fully expect the entity responsible for the road to mitigate the damage with netting and catchment areas and I see those all the time. If the rocks are less frequent, then why the need for the sign?

Maybe you could shed some light on the dangers here and share your experiences if you've encountered these falling rocks.

[camperforlife]

We were in Colorado when a fallen rock took out a Honda directly in front of us. The three older people in the car were unhurt but the Honda had to be towed. We cleared out space in the backseat of the truck and took them to the next town where they could call for help.

They were from NJ and all the gentleman could think about was his car would be stripped if he left it behind. All I could do was chuckle to myself thinking if he was lucky someone would strip it pushing the damage to total it.

[spoon059]

CavemanCharlie wrote:
In MN they are no longer putting up Deer Crossing signs. The ones that are already there will remain but, if they break they will not be replaced. It seems that nobody was teaching the deer to cross at the signs and it was determined that they did not prevent any accidents.

:B Ha, State highway department failure... they didn't properly educate the wildlife! Technically there aren't any designated crosswalks anyways, so I think you could argue that education wasn't the only mistake they made, proper roadway signage rules weren't followed.

[Gdetrailer]

3oaks wrote:

352 wrote:
:h


I think you have way to much time on your hands.

I agree. And perhaps pretty bored too.

I always believed "Beware of Falling Rocks" was pretty self explanatory. :R

But then again, if traveling in PA, there is a danger of falling rocks originating from people throwing them from highway overpasses as a poor woman from Ohio tragically was hit by.

That doesn't happen just in PA..

My brother had moved TO Ohio, was there not even a week and lost a windshield due to a rock someone had nicely tossed off the bridge he went under..

But back to the subject at hand, signs like that are often placed in WELL KNOWN areas for rocks coming down hill sides.. Typically places that have had repeated falling rock events..

More than once there HAS been boulders the size of a bus or larger fall on the road on Route 28 between Harmer and Pittsburgh off the bluffs above the road. Makes for a real traffic mess when that happens.

[Johno02]

This has been a fun thread, but to get serious for a minute. Our daughter is a OTR truck driver, drives coast-to-coast both north routes and southern routes. According to her, one of the things they fear are people throwing rocks and other things from overpasses, and/or bluffs overlooking the interstates. This has become a serious danger, and is happening more and more. Her advice to me, especially when driving the MH, and also when driving anywhere, is to be careful and very watchful. Her and others visually inspect each and every overpass as they approach, and try to observe vehicles or people standing or not moving on the overpasses. They try to report anything suspicious if possible. If you see anyone standing on a bridge or overpass, be especially watchful and prepared for anything.

[NYCgrrl]

mich800 wrote:
I have never seen a deer cross at the designated crossing area. What's up with that?

We were traveling along the Sawmill Pkwy in the evening when a deer went suicidal and jumped into the road. I'll never forget the look on the deer's face or how I imagined my face looked. The man swerved appropriately despite the Ford sedan that was tailgating us. We were near the Great Hunger Park and all the "Caution! Deer Crossing" signs:(.

[southernsky]

eubank wrote:
Step one: Slow down. Step two: If you can't see around a curve, slow some more.

If you come speeding around a curve in the mountains and find a big rock in the middle of the road, you may wind up with a pretty banged up rig. And if it's a big boulder, well, the boulder will win.

The chances of being hit by a rolling rock are pretty small. The chances of seeing a big one in the middle of the road are a good deal better (but still pretty small). The chances of seeing smaller rocks in the road are better still, especially after rains. And even a smaller rock (say, 3 or 4 inches) can do some major damage to your tires if you hit it.

🙂
Lynn

As small as a chance there is, we found one. We were traveling in Wyoming mountains coming down and around a turn and there it was. Being from Louisiana it didn't register seeing a large brown thing in the road. First thought road kill elk, then it dawn on me....Oh Hell a boulder....LARGE....REALLY LARGE...car coming the other way. All I could do is aim for the spot between the boulder and rail hoping to fit. When we got through I looked in my mirrors and it was close...really close. Wife and I looked at each other and said "OHHHH S@%& !!!!! So folks, it does happen.

[Tiger4x4RV]

In the mountains around here (the San Gabriels) there are rock plows which make regular runs on the paved roads. In between plowings, fallen rocks are not uncommon. Even a medium sized rock on the pavement can damage an oil pan.

Basically, just watch out for everything all the time.

[Naio]

My grandma likes to tell the story of a family car trip when I was six. We were looking for a turnout to pull over and pee (in the mountains) and I said, 'We can't go here. The sign says 'no dumping'!'

[Naio]

:: laughing at the image of a giant class A playing dodgeball with falling rocks ::

I mostly see the more succinct signs that just say 'ROCKS'.

I always want to write 'AC/DC' above.

(Not that I am particularly an AC/DC fan; they just seem to fit.)

[bukhrn]

mich800 wrote:
I have never seen a deer cross at the designated crossing area. What's up with that?

The 2 deer that hit my pickup, weren't crossing at a sign either, that's right, They hit me, right in the side. :S

[bukhrn]

It can & does happen more often than we as individuals see, hence the recent problem at Zion, and the I-40 slide,that Homer referenced, but most are much smaller, but a basketball sized rock coming off the side of a mountain will put a hell of a hole in an aluminum or fiberglass skinned RV.
There is really not much you can do, except keep your eyes open, and be aware of the possibility. I have seen Many rocks that have fallen, luckily, they were all on the shoulder.
I agree with others in saying that you have a far better chance of hitting something off another vehicle, like the semi wheel, (tire & Rim) I hit with a company van near Pittsburgh, or the many battery battery box covers i've seen laying in the road, or the entire fiberglass (or plastic} front bumper cover laying in the fast lane on I-95. Just be careful.And let's not forget the multitude of Goodyear Gators out there.

[NYCgrrl]

gbopp wrote:
It's a warning sign alerting you to the possibility of falling rocks.
Yes, they are often netted with steel mesh and have 'catch areas' to contain the fallen rock.

It's really no different than 'construction ahead', 'steep grade ahead' or any other warning sign. It just lets you know of a situation on the road ahead.

It does not mean the rocks will fall, just that the possibility exists.
I've seen signs near airports warning of ow flying aircraft. There were no aircraft I could see. The sign just means there could be low flying aircraft.


It's really a simple, self explanatory sign. Don't read too much into its meaning.

This.

I've seen the aftermath of falling rocks in NYC, NYS, and CT. You drive a tad more carefully (and faster) in areas w/ those signs just as you drive more cautiously in areas with "Deer Crossing" signs.

[Homer1]

I-40 East out of Asheville N.C. was completely wiped out a few years ago with a huge rock slide. Road was closed until they could rebuild it. I do not remember if any one was hurt in that slide or not. It is populated by a lot of trucks. The signs have always been there, now they have wire netting trying to lessen and control the incidence.

[Old-Biscuit]

[Johno02]

Have seen many of the signs, and a lot of fallen rock. Usually road crews get it clear every quickly, But a lot of it does happen. In North Carolina, I-40 slides off down the side of the mountain occasionally, and in Eastern Tennessee, rock slides are common. We were in Arcadia National Park when roads were closed for several days due to an earthquake where fallen rocks closed many of the roads. Alwys wear your hard hats whenever you see one of the signs!!!