Have you ever been driving a long and seen a yellow diamond warning sign on the side of the road? Perhaps you were next to a vertical cliff, and noticed that the sign had an image of a vehicle, and rocks tumbling off of the cliff and towards the car. Maybe the sign you saw was white with a red rim, and showed a steep cliff with boulders rolling towards the road. In other cases, the signs will simply by painted a bright color and warn drivers with the words "falling rocks." Oftentimes we don't even give a second thought to these warnings. We think that there is no chance that we could ever suffer such a misfortune. Yet those signs are there for a reason, and there are plenty of unfortunate incidents to prove that ever once and awhile, those rocks do fall.

Last December, frightened motorists in Maryland were shocked when hundreds of rocks rained down onto Interstate 695 in Halethorpe. The rocks fell from the top of a railroad overpass, and hit at least 15 vehicles who were stopped in rush hour traffic. The state police promptly began to investigate the situation so they could find out what caused the rocks to fall so suddenly. While there were no reported injuries, the cars were dented and scratched. Many of the car windshields were cracked. The rocks also caused some damage to other vehicles who hit the large rocks that had landed on the road.

Also last December, a serious collision sent drivers to the hospital when the drivers panicked while their cars were pelted with falling rocks. The debris was the result of a rockslide that happened that day, and travelled towards the cliff lining the interstate. While no one was seriously injured, the terror of the situation caused drivers to collide, creating costs and complications for the drivers. People have perished from these rocks in the past, especially when heavy boulders fall towards the driver's side of the car. Most often the falling rocks will cause a collision.

These rocks are definitely damaging to cars, but can be more traumatic when they fall on a motorcyclist. Because these vehicles don't provide head protection, a falling rock can kill or severely disable and injure a motorcyclist on the road. In Missoula, Montana, a rock tumbled off of a cliff and knocked a motorcyclist unconscious for a short time. The motorist was transported by ambulance to a nearby wide area, and was airlifted to the hospital. If he had not been wearing a helmet, this unfortunate cyclist would have probably perished from his injuries. This is just one reminder to always wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle or any other open-roof vehicle.

To avoid the dangers of falling rocks, make sure to note areas where these warning signs are posted. Drive in the lane farthest from the cliff wall, if possible, and avoid taking routes with rock warnings during extreme weather conditions. Rains can often loosen rocks and cause them to tumble down with slippery mud. If a wildfire recently occurred near the hills on your highway, be especially cautious driving where falling rock warnings are posted. Oftentimes this will char the roots that keep dirt and rocks in place, and they may tumble at the slightest disturbance. It is also wise to avoid driving on these routes when there are high winds. Earthquakes may also shake rocks off of their precipices.

In areas were falling rock warnings are posted, also keep a conscious eye on the road in front of you. There is a possibility that rocks may have fallen onto the street, and they could severely damage your car if you drive over them. When possible, take an alternate route that does not put you at risk to these dangerous falling rocks. That way, you will preserve your car, and possibly yourself and have a better chance of reaching your destination safely.