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.

[gbopp]

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.

[BB_TX]

Rocks can, and do, fall at any time. I have seen numerous rocks to basketball and larger size along road shoulders in those areas. But never in the roadway itself (yet). But seems once or twice a year there will be a story of a highway somewhere being closed due to a large rock slide. Many areas do use netting and.or concrete barriers to keep the rocks from the roadway.

[Rangerider]

See post by rv2go titled "House-sized boulder blocks highway in Zion National Park"

[sdianel_-acct_c]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park was closed last year due to rock slide. In 2012 a rock slide at Glacier National Park hit a car. In 2014 rocks hit a bridge in Oregon. It happens much more than you think, but the odds are that you will be there at exactly the time it happens is very low. You should watch the road to see if any rocks have fallen into the road. That's about all you can do. Many places have put up barriers that help. There are many more things to worry about on the road than falling rocks.

[eubank]

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

[csamayfield55x]

If you are traveling through during wet or snowy times you should keep a close eye out. Rocks can and do roll onto road and have been known to hit cars or take out undercarriages. It doesn't happen too often but it does happen.

A few years ago we were in Sacramento Ca. on new years. Theweather got very bad and we heard I80 was closed back to Reno. Turns out the whole side of the mountain let go and the rocks and mud were bad enough that it knocked cars out of there lanes and even trapped someone. I have also had to dodge smaller rocks in the mountains but never as bad as that

Chris