Narrow Mountain Roads

[Mule3006Elk]

I was driving this weekend on a NARROW mountain road. Steep slope to my left and drop off (cliff) to the right. Wide sections or turnouts were few and FAR between. I was hoping another truck wouldn't come my way. Thankfully no one did. What do you do in the scenario when another vehicle does come your way? It's my understanding the car going down the mountain has the right away. The car going up the mountain has to back up until there is a spot wide enough for passing. On this road in particular I would guess that would be mile + in some sections. I would love to hear others experience. I'm assuming during hunting season when the roads are more congested this happens a fare amount.

 

[Tim McCoy]

No idea, but I suppose the size of the rig and if a trailer is involved may matter.

 

[kidoggy]

don't know. I once had a guy tell me the guy going down was supposed to backup.
I was the guy going downhill and would have had to back up half mile or so ,while there was a wide spot he could pull into a mere 30-40 feet behind him.

he was being an ass about it, until. I told him to back up if he wished to see another sunrise.
HE backed up.

common sense must prevail in such situations.

 

[sheephunter]

"common sense must prevail in such situations."

I always thought the vehicle going uphill had right of way, but the above statement is gold in my book

 

[JimP]

I try and pull over at the first opportunity if I can. I even do this if I am towing a trailer, you never know if the folks coming in the opposite direction can.

I have been in some situations where I have backed up quite a ways to allow someone to pass but if you have a trailer and the other person doesn't then it is up to them to back up or pull over to allow you to pass no matter which direction up or down you are going.

But then after driving on mountain roads for over 50 years since I got my license it is second nature on what to do. It's a lot like coming up on someone that is riding a horse and you are on a motorcycle or ATV. You shut off the engine and wait until they are past you before you restart it and continue on your way.

 

[ivorytip]

I try and pull over at the first opportunity if I can. I even do this if I am towing a trailer, you never know if the folks coming in the opposite direction can.

I have been in some situations where I have backed up quite a ways to allow someone to pass but if you have a trailer and the other person doesn't then it is up to them to back up or pull over to allow you to pass no matter which direction up or down you are going.

But then after driving on mountain roads for over 50 years since I got my license it is second nature on what to do. It's a lot like coming up on someone that is riding a horse and you are on a motorcycle or ATV. You shut off the engine and wait until they are past you before you restart it and continue on your way.

what he said. gets very frustrating when people try hauling big ass 5th wheelers and campers up some of these roads though, some roads just aren't made for them. then you have people that own the road no matter what. if I can pull off I do, most people in the mountains in the fall know what's up. does get hairy at times

 

[hoshour]

The car going downhill has to yield to the uphill car. In other words, the car going uphill has the right of way. I think that's the law in most states. It is the law in CO, WY and MT, the three states I checked.

But, it is crazy to insist on your right of way. You have use common sense and courtesy. If you are going uphill and can see that just behind you is a wider spot than the other car has near them, forget your rights and back up. The same goes if the other car is towing something.

 

[packer58]

The car going downhill has to yield to the uphill car. In other words, the car going uphill has the right of way. I think that's the law in most states. It is the law in CO, WY and MT, the three states I checked.

I think the reasoning behind this particular law is that the down hill yielding vehicle would remain under power backing up to get out of the way rather than the uphill vehicle backing down with his brakes. I agree though, common sense should trump all......

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Good input guys.
The car facing downhill has to yield to the car going uphill.
I like the common sense factor as well.
Whomever is closer to a turnout should yield assuming you have two rational drivers involved which I think would be most of the time.

 

[hoshour]

For several years I drove 50,000 miles a year in the Colorado mountains, all four seasons. At first, the vertical dropoffs and lack of guard rails made me nervous. I worried about being the outside car on a snowy or icy curve and seeing someone sliding out of control coming downhill. But, in all those years and miles I never came across that.

What I did come across was a hitchhiker going up to work at the ski resort on Wolf Creek Pass. He was without a vehicle because a couple weeks before he had kept driving very slowly in a whiteout and his right wheels dropped off the edge. He never saw it, but all of a sudden his car rolled over and over down the hill until it finally came to a stop upside down in the creek. Still alive and conscious, he crawled out the window and found a way back up. I did some reckless things when I was in my 20s too, and I'm fortunate to still be around. I don't know if he is.

 

[Catahoula12]

Uphill has right of way..